| Omar in Delhi since May 25, NC praises BJP, asks for state, special status | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 19: In first such move since August 5, 2019, the National Conference has called for the restoration of statehood, Articles 370, 35A and all other features of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
A joint statement from top party leaders comes in the wake of India’s military standoff with China in the eastern Ladakh. The statement makes repeated mentions to the evolving security situations and also goes on to praise the BJP leadership for its reconciliatory approach.
A significant statement is coming at a time when party’s working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is camping in New Delhi since May 25. Even as Omar had denied any political reasons behind his Delhi visit -the first since August 5, 2019 -but political circles are rife with speculations. This statement also comes two days after National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, believed to be a hardliner within the party, was released from detention as authorities revoked the order of Public Safety Act slapped against him. Yesterday, Sagar had a long meeting with Dr Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar.
A day after his release from detention, National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar meets Dr Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar on Thursday
On Friday, the top leadership of the National Conference issued a statement praising the BJP leadership’s reconciliatory tone and demanded the restoration of pre-August 5, 2019 constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir and the unification of the two successor Union Territories.
Eleven senior leaders of the NC said in a joint statement that the party noted with satisfaction the change from a hostile and aggressive posture to a conciliatory posture advocated by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
“Statements to create an atmosphere of ‘peace, love and amity’ have no meaning unless the Centre respects the political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We demand immediate annulment of all the 5th August 2019 decisions and restoration of the 4th August 2019 constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir,” the joint statement reads.
The statement comes on a day when Prime Minister is slated to chair an all-party meeting on the Ladakh situation. The National Conference, it is learnt, has not been invited to the meeting.
The statement, for the restoration of statehood and special status, was signed by Dr Farooq Abdullah, who is a Member of Parliament, MPs Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi, besides senior party leaders Mohammad Shafi Uri, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Shammi Oberoi, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Devender Singh Rana, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy and Javaid Rana.
The NC also pointed out the recent statement of BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari that “India was not interested in the expansion of land either from Pakistan or China and only wanted peace and amity”.
The NC expressed deep anguish over the skirmishes on the Line of Control (LoC) and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the consequent loss of life and property.
“The civilian population in the border areas is under huge economic stress and the border skirmishes are to further compound its problems. Revocation of 5th August 2019 decisions and unconditional dialogue with all the stakeholders is pivotal to the lasting peace and prosperity in the region,” the joint statement reads.
It called for the opening of all traditional routes, including Kargil-Skardu, Jammu-Sialkot, Poonch – Rawalakot, to allow free movement of people across the LoC and the LAC and to promote people-to-people contact and strengthen inter-regional, trade and cultural links. |
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