Cong will fight for statehood, says Mir

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 31

Terming the bifurcation of J&K into two Union Territories a historical mistake, the Congress today said the party would fight for the restoration of statehood.

This was stated by J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president GA Mir while addressing party workers in Jammu during a function to mark the martyrdom day of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and birth anniversary of first Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

“Historical state of J&K has been disbanded and converted into UTs which is unacceptable and unfortunate. A full-fledged state has been reduced and downgraded to Centrally administered region. The Congress will fight for the restoration of the state,” said Mir.

The JKPCC chief said people had been deprived of their powers and rights in an arbitrary and undemocratic manner. “The BJP government at the Centre is following policies which are against the ethos of democracy and is functioning in an arbitrary manner which will have dangerous outcome,” Mir said. Speaking on the occasion, former minister Raman Bhalla paid tributes to Indira Gandhi and Sardar Patel and said they were visionary leaders who contributed greatly for unity and sovereignty of India.