A political divide emerged around the planned protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, with Mehbooba declining Farooq Abdullah’s invitation to take part. At the same time, Engineer Rashid signaled support for the demonstration by saying he would walk barefoot in solidarity.
According to the available details, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah left for New Delhi on Saturday along with party MLAs to stage the protest. The development sets the stage for a visible show of political positioning around the Delhi event.
Mehbooba’s decision not to join highlights the differing responses among regional leaders, even as the protest moves ahead with National Conference participation. In contrast, Engineer Rashid’s planned barefoot walk suggests a symbolic gesture of backing without changing the broader split over attendance.
With top Jammu and Kashmir leaders converging on the national capital, attention is now focused on how the protest unfolds and what the contrasting stances from Mehbooba and Engineer Rashid mean for the wider political message coming out of the region.
