Srinagar, June 4 -- Upping the ante, the ruling National Conference (NC) on Wednesday announced that its legislature party will launch a protest in New Delhi on the first day of the forthcoming Monsoon session of Parliament to press for the immediate restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees for Jammu and Kashmir.

The announcement was made by the party's chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq following a marathon meeting of NC lawmakers and allies, including CPI (M) and independent legislators, presided by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

"The National Conference has decided that on the first day of the Monsoon session, our Legislative Party, including MPs, MLAs, and allies, will go to Delhi to protest. Our primary demand will be the...