The protest march was started from the Congress headquarters at Shaheedi Chowk here and culminated with the submission of a memorandum addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind at deputy commissioner's office

Jammu: A huge number of Congress workers led by senior party leaders took to the streets on Saturday demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and protesting against the economic slowdown in the country.

The party workers began the protest march from the Congress headquarters at Shaheedi Chowk in Jammu and culminated with the submission of a memorandum addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind at deputy commissioner's office.

On August 5, the Centre abrogated Article 370 of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union territories in early August.

"This march is part of the nationwide protests organised by the All India Congress Committee against the failure of the BJP-led government to pull the country out of the economic crisis and highlight the plight of farmers, the condition of the youth, growing unemployment and price hike of essential commodities," Jammu and Kashmir Congress president GA Mir told reporters before the march, PTI reported.

Mir, who led the protest along with senior party colleagues, said, "We have sought permission to submit the memorandum to Lt Governor (G C Murmu) but as you are aware about the situation of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, we were not allowed and therefore we are handing this memorandum to the deputy commissioner, Jammu, for the President.

He further said that the memorandum highlights the murder of democracy and desecration of the Constitution besides several important issued like “economic crisis, plight of farmers, business community and transporters, joblessness and continuous price hike of essential commodities.”

Pressing for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Mir said the congressmen are on the roads to convey the voice of the people to the President as the "undemocratic and unconstitutional" steps taken by the Centre left them "deeply hurt".

"People are scared to open their voice for their rights. This is the situation which has been thrust on them after this beautiful state was dismantled," he said amid chants in support of the restoration of statehood.

Some of the protesters were seen carrying placards and banners while some of the women participants were seen wearing garlands made of vegetables like onions, lemons and cauliflower to protest the price hike of essential commodities.