‘In Naya Kashmir old things must be taken away’
Fayaz Bukhari
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (PC) chairman and the party candidate for Baramulla Parliamentary constituency, Sajjad Lone, today said that he wants economic development of the region and dignity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
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In an exclusive interview to the Excelsior on the sidelines of his rally at Baramulla today, Lone said that development of J&K and dignity of its people is the main issue for him in this election.
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“We are not demanding anything special for them. J&K should be governed by the same set of laws as the rest of the country. But a particular ecosystem has developed against them in the form of police verifications, etc., which impede their economic journey and social life. We want them to live in peace”, he added.
Lone said that for new Kashmir (Naya Kashmir), the old things must be taken away and people shouldn’t be punished throughout their life for committing one mistake.
“This whole issue has been raised by us. Our point is, if someone has made a mistake, for how long should they be penalized? Should they remain on that list for their entire life? The second point to ponder is whether you investigate an individual or a family. For example, if a child is yet to be born and his father is an ex-militant, you seal the fate of that child even before birth by bringing him under this police verification system. We want this to end, and this era of FIRs should end,” he said.
The PC chairman said that he is against the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 A, but “we believe we cannot bring it back through this election”.
“Linking Article 370 with this election is a big lie. Three MPs were present when the decision was taken, and they could not stop it. So, sending another three MPs to bring it back is futile because we could not stop the abrogation during its passage when our MPs were there. How can we bring it back now? I believe ultimately in federalism, and I think a time will come when a generation in India will uphold federalism,” he said.
The PC leader acknowledged that there has been unfair representation by the MPs in 2019 and said that people want change this time.
“After nine years, you want a change, and change is natural. If change doesn’t happen, it is unnatural. When I am demanding a chance, it is because there has been a barren, changeless era of, say, 40 or 30 years. In such circumstances my demanding a chance for a change is normal,” he said.
Lone said that this time a different point of view will be presented in Parliament, and whoever speaks they should embody the pain and emotions of the people.
“Currently, out of 10 members of Parliament, nine come from a single party. We used to have our own Prime Minister, but now we have been downgraded to a Union Territory headed by an LG. From having a PM, we now have nothing. Who should we hold responsible for this? We are new people, and those parties that have been ruling here for the last 70 years, if they give their view in New Delhi even today, it serves no purpose,” he added.
When asked about Prime Minister and Home Minister linking Srinagar voter turnout with scrapping of Article 370, Lone said people should not be incited.
“I think it is an evolution. I would not link it with Article 370, because that would prompt Kashmiris to stay indoors again. I think we should leave people to their condition without inciting them. Stop issuing statements against them,” he said.
The PC leader said that by attending the rally in large numbers at Baramulla today people have given their verdict about the constituency.
“You have just seen 1-lakh people in my rally, please be a better judge. Have you seen such a big rally in Jammu and Kashmir earlier? This is the result. We have won,” he said.
On Omar Abdullah calling him the B-team of BJP, the furious Lone said that it was him who had aligned with the BJP and became Minister in the Vajpayee Government.
“…when no Muslim leader was shaking hands with the BJP at that time, this father-son duo went there not because they lacked members, but because they wanted to be part of them. They were desperately wanting to be with the RSS,” he said.
Lone said that the voter turnout in Baramulla constituency would be the highest. “…they (NC) have won the north traditionally because of low voter turnout. When voter turnout is high and everyone participates in the elections, it will bring a revolution,” he said.
When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on Mangalsutra and other issues relating to Muslims, the PC leader said: “I am a secular person, a die-hard Muslim with a Muslim identity, and I completely reject and condemn anything against Muslims with all the power I have. I respect all religions and would never cast aspersions on any religion, nor would I want anyone to cast aspersions on my great religion. Anyone who raises their finger against our religion, I condemn it,” he said.
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