Srinagar, Jul 17: Ahead of the National Conference’s proposed protest in New Delhi over the demand for statehood, Peoples Conference (PC)president Sajad Lone launched a scathing attack, alleging that the NC was attempting to bury Articles 370 and 35A by restricting its campaign solely to statehood.
Lone urged the government to first convene a special session of the Legislative Assembly to pass a resolution on statehood before taking the issue to the streets or staging a protest in New Delhi.
Addressing a press conference, Lone said Articles 370, 35A, and statehood together formed Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional framework before August 5, 2019, with Article 370 being “the most important” pillar.
“We seek restoration of the pre-2019 constitutional position for Jammu and Kashmir, not merely statehood. The issue is political empowerment, not just restoration of statehood,” he asserted.
He accused the NC of abandoning the very issues on which it sought votes during Assembly elections. “The issue on which the NC sought votes was restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. Today only statehood is being projected. I believe this is an attempt to bury those demands,” Lone alleged.
Calling for legislative action before public protests, Lone urged the government to convene an emergency session of the Assembly and adopt a resolution seeking restoration of statehood. He warned that bypassing the Assembly and taking the issue directly to Jantar Mantar would reduce the statehood demand to a national political contest between the BJP and opposition parties.
“Don’t make statehood a football for pan-India politics. Let Jammu and Kashmir first speak through its Assembly. If constitutional efforts fail, then other democratic options can be explored. Only if that route fails should Jantar Mantar be considered,” Lone said.
He maintained that restoration of statehood alone would not address the larger issue of political disempowerment. “Political empowerment is not about buildings. It is about restoring powers to the elected Assembly, Cabinet, Chief Minister and legislators. That is what existed before August 5, 2019,” he added.
Lone further alleged that the NC’s proposed protest was intended to divert public attention away from Articles 370 and 35A.
He dismissed both the NC’s proposed protest and the BJP’s planned demonstrations as “political drama.”
Replying to another question on Martyrs’ Day, Lone questioned what he described as the selective political narrative surrounding those killed during different periods of Jammu and Kashmir’s history.
Referring to those killed during the Maharaja’s rule as martyrs, he asked: “What about those who were killed during the National Conference and PDP governments?”—(KNO)
