6 J&K parties vow to fight for statehood

M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, August 22

A year after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, six regional parties, including the NC, PDP and Congress, today announced a joint fight for the restoration of Article 370.

Party leaders, accused of evading a comment on the abrogation so far, said they had been unable to keep in touch owing to the curbs imposed by the Centre.

In a statement, Farooq Abdullah (NC), Mehbooba Mufti (PDP), GA Mir (J&K Pradesh Congress Committee), MY Tarigami (CPM), Sajad Lone (J&K People’s Conference) and Muzaffar Shah (Awami National Conference), termed the abrogation as grossly unconstitutional.

“In a spitefully short-sighted and unconstitutional move, Articles 370 and 35A were abrogated and the state was bifurcated and relegated to the status of two Union Territories... These changes were accompanied by repressive measures meant to silence the people and coerce them into submission,” the statement read.

A day before the abrogation of special status, the leaders had met at Abdullah’s Gupkar residence here and drafted a declaration. On August 20, Abdullah had said the parties stood by the declaration and would reveal the future course of action once all leaders were set free.

The joint statement further read: “We reiterate our commitment to collectively fight to restore the special status as guaranteed under the Constitution...”

Time to stand together

Ms (Mehbooba) Mufti appreciates the statesmanship shown by Dr Farooq Sahab in forging a collective response to Delhi’s onslaught on J&K’s special status. It’s time we forego political differences & stand together”. — Iltija, Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter