JK News Today
Srinagar, October 07:
In a fresh bid to take the lead role in the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir , National Conference on Wednesday urged its president Farooq Abdullah to foster efforts at a larger political level for the restoration of the pre-August 5 , 2019, position of the erstwhile state.
The party had convened a meeting in Srinagar on Wednesday to discuss all the issues facing the people of J&K, particularly the Valley. It was presided over by NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar , and attended among others by leaders like Sheikh Mustafa Kamal and Nasir Aslam Wani .
NC was pioneer in the Gupkar Declaration of August 22,2020, in which the parties , including PDP, Awami National Conference, People’s Conference, Congress and CPI-M, had pledged to work tirelessly for the restoration of August 4, 2019 position of the erstwhile state. J&K was a full fledged state until that day with Article 370 and Article 35 A intact .
Sagar told the party workers and leaders that “The journey to catch up with the pre 2019 situation is a far cry unless people are not empowered politically and the unconstitutional and unilateral decisions of August 5 are not reversed.”
He made it clear that there would be “no trade-off between the political aspirations of the people and development and that no development can take place unless people are not politically empowered and the unilateral, unconstitutional decisions not reversed,” he said.
Sagar also disclosed that the “ efforts underway by the party president towards forging unity amongst political parties for the restoration of J&K’s special status are laudable,” as he also underscored the importance of the latest Gupkar Declaration.
“Gupkar Declaration affords a non-violent and peaceful path towards securing the interests of the people of J&K. NC has all along been a votary of peace and nonviolence, we will continue to uphold that age old political proclivity of ours,” he said.
