Srinagar, June 9 -- J&K chief minister (CM) Omar Abdullah, while attending the INDIA bloc meeting on Monday, urged the alliance parties to join their planned protest for statehood on the first day of Parliament's monsoon session. The National Conference shared this information on its X handle. "Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sought INDIA bloc backing for protests on J&K Statehood Restoration," NC wrote on its official X. J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti attended the INDIA Bloc meeting in New Delhi today. "He (CM) has also informed them that we will be writing to each party individually, seeking their support in this collective fight for the constitutional and democratic rights of the people of J&K," NC chief spokesman and legislator Tanvir Sadiq said Sources said the CM also requested senior alliance leaders to be present so theprotest would have a forceful impact. The NC had last week announced that its legislature party would stage a protest in New Delhi on the first day of the forthcoming Monsoon session of Parliament, pressing for the immediate restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees for Jammu and Kashmir. The issue pertains to Jammu and Kashmir's reorganisation in August 2019, when the erstwhile state was bifurcated and downgraded into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Abdullah raised the matter at the meeting of INDIA bloc leaders held at the Constitution Club here, where opposition parties discussed a range of political and public issues and stressed the need for greater unity against the BJP. The NC's announcement of a Delhi protest comes amid growing pressure on the party over the demand for restoration of statehood and special status, and follows the Centre's engagement with groups in Ladakh seeking constitutional safeguards and statehood for the Union Territory. In the Monday's meeting, Omar urged opposition parties to look ahead to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and emphasised that the Congress was the "glue" holding the INDIA bloc together. Earlier this month, the PDP president wrote letters to leaders of all political parties, including CM Omar and the opposition BJP, urging them to join a united fight for statehood restoration. The NC has already started preparations for the protest in New Delhi. While some political parties welcomed the decision, many termed it a belated exercise and asked the CM to pass a resolution in the state assembly. Senior Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader and LangateMLA, Sheikh Khursheed expressed hope that INDIA Bloc meeting would address the pressing political concerns of J&K. He said that if Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti succeed in persuading the INDIA Bloc to issue a joint statement supporting the restoration of J&K special constitutionalstatus, statehood and other political rights, it would be a significant step....