A five-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) visited Jammu and Kashmir this week, advocating for the restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory and expressing solidarity with families affected by recent cross-border shelling in border areas like Poonch, Rajouri, and Uri.
“Statehood a Legitimate Aspiration”
Leading the delegation, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said that restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is a “legitimate aspiration” of its people and that the federal structure of India demands empowered local governance.
“We believe that the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir must be the empowered agency to look after the welfare and well-being of the people. Statehood must be fully restored,” Ghose said after meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on Wednesday.
She added that federalism is a core value enshrined in the Constitution and “an article of faith” for the Trinamool Congress.
Meeting with CM Omar Abdullah
The delegation met with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for over 90 minutes, discussing key issues including the devastating impact of Pakistan-initiated shelling on civilians. Ghose said the CM shared detailed accounts of the challenges faced by residents in the border villages, stating that more people had died in cross-border shelling than in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
Visit to Ground Zero
Poonch and Rajouri On Thursday, the delegation travelled to Poonch, one of the worst-hit regions, where they met families of victims and assessed the damage. They were accompanied by local MLA Ajaz Jan.
“We saw the grief, the sorrow — especially of those who lost their loved ones in the shelling. We came here to tell them they are not alone. The people of Bengal and the entire nation stand with them,” said Manas Ranjan Bhunia, a senior TMC leader and West Bengal minister.
On Friday, the team is scheduled to visit Rajouri to continue engaging with affected communities and gather firsthand insight into the crisis.
Condemning Civilian Targeting
Members of the delegation, including TMC Parliamentary Party Leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien, MPs Mamta Thakur, Mohd Nadimul Haque, and Sagarika Ghose, condemned the targeting of innocent civilians, including children and youth, in the shelling allegedly initiated by Pakistan.
“Every life is precious — whether lost in Pahalgam or Poonch. Civilians have nothing to do with war, and their targeting must be condemned. We will raise these concerns in Parliament,” said another TMC MP while interacting with the media in Poonch.
TMC’s Commitment to Peace and Federalism
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Trinamool Congress reiterated its stand: “A five-member delegation from our party travelled to Jammu & Kashmir to express solidarity with those affected by cross-border violence. After a meaningful meeting with Hon’ble CM Omar Abdullah, the team visited Poonch, where they stood beside grieving families, offering condolences and reaffirming our commitment to humanity and peace.”
The TMC’s visit comes at a politically sensitive time when voices for the restoration of J&K’s full statehood are growing louder, with regional leaders and national parties beginning to align on the need for enhanced autonomy and stronger local governance amid recurring security threats
