Restore statehood: Congress

Srinagar, November 28

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Sunday asked the Centre to restore the “dignity and honour” of the erstwhile state by granting the union territory statehood and reinstating the democratic right of the people.

Addressing a party workers’ convention at Wachoo in the Khansaheb area of Budgam district of Central Kashmir, JKPCC president GA Mir said the Congress was the only unifying force capable enough to defeat the BJP’s “maneuvering to divide people” on the basis of region or religion with an aim to gain political mileage.

The workers’ convention was part of the party’s Jan Jagran Abhiyaan — an initiative of the Congress to highlight the “wrong policies” of the Centre towards the people of the union territory.

Alleging the people of J&K were witnessing the “ugliest situation on every count”, Mir questioned the “delay” in holding the Assembly poll and granting statehood to J&K as promised by the Centre.

He asked the Centre to fulfil its promise rather than “making u-turns and (indulging in) misadventures aiming to gain political mileage, which the BJP has been doing since it assumed power”. “However, the people have realised that they were being exploited and used for electoral gains by the saffron party. They have decided to defeat its (BJP’s) designs,” Mir said, stressing efforts to weaken the Congress party would be thwarted. — PTI 

Questions poll delay

• JKPCC on Sunday held the party workers’ convention as part of its Jan Jagran Abhiyaan against the “wrong policies” of the Centre in the UT
• JKPCC president GA Mir questioned the “delay” in holding the Assembly elections and granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as promised by the Centre