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Peoples Conference, led by separatist turned mainstream politician Sajad Lone, has turned defunct as the party has maintained complete silence since August 5, 2019, when Centre revoked J&K’s special status and divided it into two union territories.
Sajad Lone was detained post August 5 and he remained in detention for more than six months. Since his release he has been claiming that he is under house detention. His party appears to have turned into a non-existent political unit. Ouster of Srinagar Mayor, Junaid Mattu, who was considered to be the young face of the Peoples Conference, has further weakened Lone’s party. Mattu had to step down after a no-confidence motion was passed against him.
Sajad Lone, who had projected himself as the next Chief Minister of J&K in 2018, stands on crossroads today. His is not the only Kashmir centric party which has lost relevance post August 5, 2019 in Kashmir, other parties, including National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party too have lost significance.
What has pushed Sajad Lone and his party into oblivion? Is it that Peoples Conference too has lost New Delhi’s ashirwaad? The changed political scenario post August 5, 2019 has proved it beyond doubt that most of the Kashmir centric parties were existing due to the support which they got from Delhi. These parties did not enjoy any support from the people of Kashmir. Had these parties enjoyed any support people would have come out on streets to seek the release of the politicians who were arrested soon after J&K’s reorganization. But common people just turned their back towards these leaders and made no attempt to seek their release. Common masses showing no interest in these leaders and parties exposed them further. It appears that leaders like Sajad Lone and Omar Abdullah have lost interest in politics as they seem to have understood that their future is bleak.
According to media reports Sajad Lone is unhappy as he was not treated at par with Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief ministers of erstwhile J&K State. Both Omar and Mehbooba were kept away from other politicians after being detained on August 5, while Sajad Lone was clubbed with common leaders in Kashmir. Despite Omar and Mehbooba being given preferential treatment their parties have lost relevance. Omar is camping in New Delhi, while Mehbooba is serving detention under Public Safety Act at her Gupkar residence in Srinagar. Kashmir centric leaders have been cut to size and turned into fence sitters. |
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