India, July 11 -- The National Conference's decision to go ahead with a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi has once again pushed the question of full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir back into the political spotlight. The party has framed the demonstration, planned for the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, as a reminder to the Centre of what it describes as a long-standing commitment that remains unfulfilled.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been explicit about the purpose and timing of the protest. He said, "There is no change in that plan. We are still fully committed to the one-day protest at Jantar Mantar at the beginning of the monsoon session to remind the Centre of the promise of statehood it has made to the peo...