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| PDF leadership asks JKNC to clarify roadmap on statehood | | calls for all-party strategy before Jantar Mantar protest |
Srinagar, July 14 (Scoop News)-A meeting of the Core Group of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Front (PDF) was held on Tuesday at the party headquarters under the chairmanship of party president and former Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen to deliberate on the prevailing political situation and discuss the proposed Jantar Mantar protest on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.
After detailed deliberations, the Core Group unanimously adopted a resolution calling upon the ruling Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) to clearly spell out the nature of the statehood it is seeking from the Union Government and urged it to convene an all-party meeting to evolve a common political strategy before launching the proposed agitation.
Addressing the meeting, Hakeem said the restoration of statehood was not a favour but a solemn commitment made by the Union Government on the floor of Parliament. He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had publicly assured Parliament and the people of Jammu and Kashmir that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time.
"Statehood has already been promised on the floor of Parliament. It is a commitment made by the country's highest leadership, and the Centre must fulfil it without any further delay," Hakeem said.
Welcoming the JKNC's decision to raise the issue through a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, Hakeem said the issue deserved the support of every political party but questioned why the National Conference had not first consulted other political parties and stakeholders.
He said an all-party meeting should have been convened to evolve a common roadmap and formulate a united strategy before launching any political agitation.
"The demand for statehood belongs to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and not to any single political party. A united delegation representing all political parties would send a stronger and more effective message to the Government of India," he said.
Hakeem also sought clarity from the National Conference on the exact nature of the statehood it was seeking.
"The JKNC leadership must explain whether it is demanding the restoration of the same statehood that existed before August 5, 2019, along with constitutional safeguards, or whether it is seeking a diluted form of statehood without guarantees for the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
He asserted that the people had voted for the National Conference not merely for the restoration of statehood but also for the restoration of their constitutional and political rights, including Article 370 and Article 35A, which were abrogated on August 5, 2019.
"The people gave their mandate with the expectation that their constitutional rights would be restored. If the demand is now confined only to statehood without safeguards for our identity, land and jobs, then the government must explain whether this reflects the mandate it received," Hakeem said.
The PDF president reiterated that his party would fully support any genuine movement aimed at restoring Jammu and Kashmir's pre-August 5, 2019 constitutional position.
"If the National Conference is seeking the restoration of statehood with constitutional safeguards, protection of our cultural identity, land rights, employment opportunities, Article 370 and Article 35A, then we stand with that cause and are prepared to extend our full support," he said.
Hakeem said Jammu and Kashmir should also learn from the example of Ladakh, where political parties and civil society organisations united to place a common agenda before the Government of India.
"If a region with only a few lakh people can build consensus on its constitutional demands, there is no reason why the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir, representing more than 1.30 crore people, cannot unite on an issue that concerns every citizen," he said.
Questioning the timing of the proposed agitation, Hakeem said nearly two years had passed since the National Conference assumed office, yet no concrete political roadmap had been presented on the promises made to the people.
"After two years in office, the government must explain what concrete steps it has taken towards fulfilling its political commitments. Symbolic protests without clarity of purpose will not address the aspirations of the people," he said.
The Core Group unanimously adopted a resolution stating that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have the right to know whether the National Conference is seeking the restoration of the pre-August 5, 2019 status of the erstwhile State with full constitutional safeguards, including protection of land, jobs, identity and the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A, or whether it is seeking a limited or diluted form of statehood.
The resolution further stated that any movement for the restoration of statehood must be based on transparency, clarity of purpose and a well-defined political roadmap. It urged the National Conference leadership to convene an all-party meeting before the proposed Jantar Mantar protest so that a united political strategy could be evolved in the larger interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting concluded with the Core Group reaffirming the PDF's commitment to pursuing the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's democratic and constitutional rights through peaceful and democratic means and appealing to all political parties to rise above partisan interests and work collectively for the larger interests of the people.
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