New political party comes into being

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 9

Kashmir on Monday got a new political party that called for a post Article 370 roadmap for the state and urged New Delhi to restore J&K statehood and domicile status for the state subjects.

Five unknown men held a first non-official press conference in the Valley after the scrapping of Article 370 and announced the formation of Jammu Kashmir Political Movement (I). Three of the leaders identified themselves as Dr Shahid Khan, advocate Raja Ashraf, Muhstaq Tantary.

Not much is known about their political background. In one case only, a source identified one of them as a former counter insurgent. “The status quo should be maintained regarding the domicile rights in J&K as is being maintained in different states of India so as to restore social security among the masses in the state,” said Khan at the J&K government established Media Facilitation Centre in Srinagar.

He also demanded the restoration of statehood to J&K and reservation in jobs for the state youths. We are already facing huge problem of unemployment. Therefore, the jobs in government institutions should be restricted to people of the state,” Khan said.