Farmers Movement Archive

We demand restoration of pre-Aug 5 position of J&K: Mehbooba

SRINAGAR: Former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday made it clear that they were not talking about restoration of statehood, but demanding rollback of J&K’s status as it existed before August 5, 2019, when the Centre nullified Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution. Talking to reporters at Kupwara on the sidelines of PDP’s first-ever rally in J&K after its special status was scrapped and the erstwhile state was split into two Union territories on August 5, 2019, Mehbooba said the Kashmir issue should be resolved by initiating dialogue with Pakistan and the people of J&K as there has been lots of bloodshed over the contentious issue. The PDP chief also demanded the release of all Kashmiri people, including political personalities, who have been languishing in various jails in and outside J&K over the issue. Criticising the BJP-led central government for its “anti-people policies”, Mehbooba said the Centre is suppressing all those voices which raise concern about the same. “If anyone raises voice against them (the central government), that voice is suppressed. Recently everybody watched how they arrested a 21-year-old girl for raising her voice in favour of the farmers, who are protesting against the three new farm laws,” she said, adding that such voices are not being silenced in Kashmir only, but everywhere in the country. Asked about the future of six-party amalgam People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), she said the alliance is talking about the aspirations of the people of J&K and the people want this alliance to work.

The Times of India

2021-02-17

India