Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Nov 6: Former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today termed the resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly on restoration of Constitutional guarantees for Jammu and Kashmir as a “half-hearted effort” and announced that her party would bring in amendments to address its shortcomings.
While addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Mufti termed the resolution’s passage a positive step but said that she was disappointed as it neither condemned the August 5, 2019, decision nor demanded the restoration of Article 370.
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“I will say half-hearted effort, because the resolution they have brought, unfortunately, does not say that we oppose the decision made in 2019. Nor does it say to restore Article 370,” she said.
Expressing surprise at the resolution’s mention of dialogue, Mufti questioned: “With whom should there be a dialogue? Should there be a dialogue with BJP representatives? With those who still oppose this? I think the PDP resolution was better.”
She also criticized the resolution’s language, suggesting it should reflect the tone of a government with a brute majority, but instead, it sounded like it came from some “poor, helpless” person.
“It could have been said, as in the PDP resolution, that we oppose the decision made in 2019. We condemn it. And at the same time, it could have been said, as it resolves, that the special status of Jammu and Kashmir should be restored to Article 370, 35A, in its original position,” she explained.
Mufti questioned the connection made between the resolution and “national unity.” “India is considered a country of diversity. And look at this diversity – the people of Jammu and Kashmir joined hands in 1947, with the understanding that this country is diverse. There is unity in diversity,” she said.
While supporting the resolution, Mufti suggested further discussion and amendments. “Instead of saying that we are concerned, they should resolve ‘that the Government of India restores the special status, 370, 35A.’ So let us discuss this, because we do not want people to be cheated,” she urged.
The PDP chief acknowledged that the National Conference-led Government has taken a positive move. “We welcome it. But I think it is the PDP’s role to take a second step. To address the shortcomings in this resolution, we need to bring amendments,” she emphasized.
Recalling past poll promises, Mufti said both her party and the NC pledged to condemn the revocation of Article 370 and push for its restoration if elected to the Assembly. “We kept our promise by bringing in a resolution. But the NC showed a lot of hesitation in this. And today, I think, under pressure from the people watching, they relented. I think they were forced. But I still say, it could be brought forward in a better way,” she said.
The PDP chief reiterated that numbers do not matter if the party is motivated by genuine intent and a clear agenda. “Whether one person or a few stand in opposition, if they have a clear agenda and are sincere, they can compel the Government to address the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she argued.
Reflecting on the PDP’s stance, Mufti noted it was her party that first demanded the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
She remarked that the Chief Minister’s endorsement of dialogue was ironic, and that the resolution lacks a clear condemnation of the 2019 decision to revoke Article 370 and 35A. “It only expresses ‘concern’ and calls for dialogue. It fails to explicitly oppose or condemn the 2019 decision,” she added.
Echoing Mufti’s sentiments, PDP’s Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said that while they support the resolution, it should have been strongly worded, condemned the August 5 decision, and directly called for the restoration of Article 370, which was avoided “for whatever compulsion they had.”
“But whatever is written, we support it, and I do not think there is any room or need for dialogue for restoration, as written in the resolution. But I think there is a larger message that whatever transpired on August 5, 2019, is unacceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Parra expressed hope that the NC would eventually expand on this resolution. “This is the beginning of a process, and we hope they will strongly articulate the aspirations of the people of J&K. They should have condemned August 5, which they did not do, and they should have clearly mentioned the restoration of Article 370,” he said.
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