Says NC MP’s were laughing when Article 370 was abrogated in parliament; ‘PC not an establishment party, have always faced harassment and intimidations’
Srinagar, Dec 01: People’s Conference president, Sajad Lone on Wednesday said that it was Omar Abdullah who showed BJP the way towards Jammu and Kashmir and stated that blaming PDP is not justified as it was Omar Abdullah and NC that brought BJP to the Valley.
Talking to reporters here, Lone said that Article 370 was revoked in the parliament and at that time parliament members of the NC were laughing at the decision and none of them uttered a word at that time.
“They did not say anything in favour of article 370 and rest is history. Till today no one in Jammu and Kashmir is living peacefully,” he said.
He said that he felt disappointed after hearing the statement of Omar Abdullah that Late Mufti Sahab joined hands with BJP to ruin J&K. “It was only Omar Abdullah who showed BJP the way towards Jammu and Kashmir. Omar is becoming the Kashmir’s number one liar and Kashmiri parlance we call it ‘Tarr Baaz’ and he is the biggest ‘Tarr Baaz’ as everyday a new lie can be heard through his statements,” Lone said.
He asked that what would have NC done if they would have been in power in 2019. “They were in power in 2010 when hundreds of children were killed. Everything was handled at that time by the union ministry. Their government was only a puppet at the hands of union ministry,” Lone said.
Replying to a question, he said that he doesn’t want to work with PAGD as they are not trustworthy. “PDP has been supporting and working for PAGD but the members of PAGD don’t spare even them.”
He said that the National Conference talks about vote division so it might be possible that Omar has visited Inderwal on the instructions of BJP for vote division. “Because of vote division, BJP has got 4 seats in Chenab where normally they did not possess a single seat. Who is doing this vote division? Who has sent NC there for vote division,” Lone questioned.
Responding to a question about repealing of August 5 decisions as farm laws too have been repealed by the union government, Lone said: “We are Kashmiris and Muslims as well so we should not equate our situation with farmers. We shouldn’t be under delusions. Nobody in the country has any interest in talking about the aspirations and rights of Kashmiri Muslims.”
He further said that the demand for restoration of article 370 will never be doomed. “Everyone will stop talking about this but the demand wont be dissolved. I believe that the centre will themselves restore it without any advocacy by political parties of J&K.”
He said that it could only be restored either in the parliament or in the court and People’s Conference was the first party that moved to court for its restoration.
Responding to a question Lone said that PC is a 45-year-old party and they have not seen anything except jails and intimidations. “About 700-800 of our party workers have been slapped with Public Safety Act (PSA) and thousands have been killed by bullets, and two of our leaders have died in custody.”
He said that PC is not an establishment party and everyone knows that the National Conference and PDP are the only two parties in J&K that are establishment parties.
“Before 1996 NC was a cadre based party and after that it also turned into an establishment party. Our party has only seen harassments and intimidations and most of it was during the tenure of National Conference,” he said.
Lone said that it is strange that the people who have remained in jail for about 10 years and have seen only injustice are being questioned by those who are endear of establishment party. “My father himself was confined to jail for 10 years. These people cannot see his sacrifices but his decade long statements are being reminded now only to play their political card.”
He said that politics is a reality and it is like a flowing water which cannot be stopped. “I feel that people are coming forward to support us as they are missing the popular government. In the absence of popular government the people are facing huge difficulties so now people are coming forward to talk.”
Lone said that it is not that the bureaucracy is not able to handle the governance properly but it is a kind of norm in democracy that common people are more comfortable with popular government than with the bureaucracy. (KNS)
