Srinagar, Jul 25: National Conference Chief Spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq on Saturday asked PDP President Mehbooba Mufti to apologise for her remarks on police action in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that her statement justifies use of force against protesters in the Union Territory.
Speaking to reporters here, Sadiq said that NC had invited PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to participate in the Jantar Mantar protest but she chose not to attend.
“We invited Mehbooba Ji to join us at Jantar Mantar, but she did not come. Later, she joined another protest, which was her decision. However, I was shocked by her remarks suggesting that police action in Jammu and Kashmir is somehow normal while similar action in Delhi is unacceptable,” he said.
Sadiq said such a statement effectively portrayed every protester in Jammu and Kashmir as “a militant” and legitimised the use of force against peaceful demonstrators.
“Does that mean every person who comes out to protest in Jammu and Kashmir is a militant? Whether someone protests over reservation, unemployment, civic issues or any other public concern, does that make them a militant? Are you giving authorities a certificate that lathi charge and use of force against people in Jammu and Kashmir is justified simply because it has become a norm? Such a statement is deeply unfortunate and unacceptable,” he said.
Calling the remarks as “disgusting,” Sadiq said no distinction should be made between the democratic rights of people in Jammu and Kashmir and those elsewhere in the country.
“You cannot say that beating people in Jammu and Kashmir is acceptable while doing the same in Delhi is wrong. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve the same dignity, democratic space and constitutional protections as every other citizen of the country,” he said.
Demanding an apology from the PDP chief, Sadiq said her remarks hurt the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and should be withdrawn. “We believe she should apologise. No political leader should make a statement that weakens the democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir or legitimises the use of force against peaceful protesters,” he added.
Sadiq also described the National Conference’s recent protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi as a “historic” movement for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s rights, saying it was perhaps the first time in the country’s history that a ruling political party, led by a sitting Chief Minister, staged a protest in the national capital.
“In this country, when it comes to the rights of Jammu and Kashmir, every resident of J&K should remember that for the first time in history, a ruling political party went to Jantar Mantar to fight for the rights of the people. A serving Chief Minister sat before the barricades and demanded that the rights taken away from Jammu and Kashmir be restored. I don’t think such a thing has happened anywhere in the country before,” Sadiq said.
He said the protest sent a clear message to the nation that the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are as important as those of citizens in any other state.
Sadiq said the National Conference remained committed to holding the protest despite not receiving permission until the last moment.
“Our intention was clear from the beginning. We had decided to go to Jantar Mantar. Though permission was delayed till the last moment, by the grace of Allah our leaders, workers and supporters reached the venue, assembled near the barricades and peacefully registered their protest. People from across Jammu and Kashmir participated and we fulfilled the promise we had made,” he said.
The NC leader also took a swipe at opposition parties, saying several political leaders confined themselves to social media instead of joining what he termed a “historic” protest for Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional and democratic rights.
“It is unfortunate that many political parties remained confined to their homes and merely posted on social media. They failed to understand the significance of what had happened,” he said—(KNO)
