‘BJP’s A, B & C teams stand fully exposed after refusal to join Jantar Mantar protest’
SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference Provincial President Showkat Ahmad Mir Wednesday said the restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood is a constitutional obligation whose continued delay has deepened public disappointment and strengthened the resolve of the people to pursue their democratic rights through peaceful and constitutional means.
He said the National Conference exercised patience for nearly two years, trusting the repeated assurances given by the Union Government before Parliament, the Supreme Court and the people that statehood would be restored after the Assembly elections. “Having honoured every democratic process with responsibility and restraint, we were left with no option but to intensify our peaceful movement for the restoration of the people’s constitutional and democratic rights,” he said.
Mir said the campaign began with the historic public convention at Hazratbal on July 11 and gained further momentum with the large public demonstration in New Delhi, where people from different political parties, social organisations and civil society came together in a collective call for the restoration of statehood and democratic rights.
“Statehood is not a favour to be granted at convenience. It is a constitutional commitment and the democratic right of the people of Jammu & Kashmir,” Mir said. “This assurance was given before Parliament, reiterated before the people and affirmed before the Supreme Court. The time has come to honour that commitment in both letter and spirit.”
Reaffirming the National Conference’s long-standing position, Mir said the party remains committed to the peaceful and constitutional struggle for the restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s constitutional rights. He said the restoration of statehood is the essential first step towards rebuilding democratic institutions and strengthening the rights and aspirations of the people.
He urged the Union Government to respond to the aspirations of the people with sincerity by restoring statehood without further delay and taking meaningful steps towards the return of the constitutional and democratic rights of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
Referring to the parties that did not participate in the New Delhi demonstration, Mir said,“The BJP’s A, B and C teams had once again chosen to remain absent from a collective democratic initiative. The decision of the PDP, Apni Party and People’s Conference to stay away from the protest raised important political questions among the people, particularly at a time when a united voice was needed for the restoration of statehood and constitutional rights.”
“These parties stand exposed in front of the people after their conspicuous absence from the Jantar Mantar protest,” Mir said.