Srinagar, Oct 18 — The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) today staged a hunger strike demanding the immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Party president Tariq Hameed Karra, along with several senior Congress leaders, joined the protest, vowing to continue their agitation until statehood is reinstated. Congress youth leader Muzafar Ahmad said the people of J&K have been deprived of their democratic rights. “Everything has been snatched from us. Our protests will continue until justice is done,” he said. Meanwhile, Tariq Hameed Karra reacted sharply to the National Conference (NC) over the Nagrota seat-sharing issue, accusing the party of creating confusion among opposition ranks. He also criticized the BJP, saying the party was responsible for “all the wrong decisions” taken in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. Reacting to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement on the smart meter issue, Karra clarified that it was not part of the Congress manifesto, but rather the NC’s, which had promised relief to people from smart meters.