Srinagar, July 6 (). The National Conference (NC) has announced that the party will protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on the first day of the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. Through this demonstration, the demand for restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will be raised. Besides, the need to restore dialogue between India and Pakistan will also be emphasised.
Speaking to , National Conference chief spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq said, “This decision has been taken in the recent meeting of the party. The party leadership believes that the promise made by the Central Government to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to restore statehood should now be fulfilled.”
He said, “On the first day of the monsoon session, we will go to Delhi and remind the Central Government of its promise. This promise has also come to the fore during the proceedings of the Prime Minister of the country, the Union Home Minister and the Supreme Court. Recently, on this issue, a meeting of senior leaders and the working committee of the party was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Farooq Abdullah, in which the outline of the movement was decided.”
Tanveer Sadiq said, “The party wants more and more people of Jammu and Kashmir to join this protest. Those who believe that statehood has been taken away from them and its restoration will improve the future of the state, they should become a part of this democratic movement.”
He said, “If the Bharatiya Janata Party officially announces the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir even today, there will be no need for protests. Our aim is not confrontation, but to demand our rights.”
Taking aim at the BJP, Sadiq said, “BJP itself had promised to restore statehood in its election manifesto. If this promise was made then why has it not been fulfilled till now. The central government should give a clear timeline in this regard.”
On India-Pakistan relations, he said, “There should be dialogue between the two countries. When senior officials of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also hold talks, it is not appropriate to question the statements of leaders of other parties on the same issue.”
He referred to the statement of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that “Friends can be changed, but neighbors cannot.” According to him, peaceful relations with neighboring countries are in the interest of both the countries.
Tanveer Sadiq said that allies of India Block will also be invited to the proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar. He said, “Various political parties and democratic forces of Jammu and Kashmir will also be appealed to join this campaign, so that the demand for restoration of statehood gets widespread support.”
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SCH/DKP
