Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 30: The J&K National Conference today demanded immediate revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from J&K on the same lines on which the Act was withdrawn from Tripura.
Speaking at the district convention of the party for Srinagar here today, senior NC leaders unanimously passed a resolution seeking immediate revocation of AFSPA from the J&K State as was done in Tripura. The day-long convention saw five resolutions being introduced and adopted by the party on issues of revocation of AFSPA, resumption of talks between India and Pakistan, the rehabilitation of flood victims, the revocation and scrapping of the anti-youth new recruitment policy and about the unfortunate loss of innocent lives in North Kashmir.
Addressing the convention, NC general secretary and former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar strongly condemned the communal and insensitive statements issued by senior BJP leaders and spokespersons and said such remarks have given rise to serious apprehensions in the minds of the people in J&K.
“The PDP-BJP alliance in J&K is a communal front of those forces which have traditionally been opposed to the ideals of secularism and egalitarianism in India. To satisfy his insatiable appetite for political power, Mufti Sayeed joined hands with the same party that he sought votes against in the run-up to the Assembly elections. This is an unholy, communal nexus that aims to further the longstanding ideology of RSS when it comes to Jammu and Kashmir. This alliance is inherently opposed to Article 370, the State Subject Laws and aims to suppress and undermine the political aspirations and sentiments of the people of the State,” Sagar said.
Additional general secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal welcomed the revocation of AFSPA from Tripura and demanded that the PDP-BJP Government initiates a similar process in J&K and revoked the Act without any further delay. “What can be done in Tripura can be done in J&K as well. While in opposition PDP always said the State Cabinet could revoke AFSPA if it intended to do so. What is stopping Mufti Sayeed from revoking AFSPA from J&K now that he heads the State Cabinet and is in an alliance with BJP, allegedly on the basis of a ‘Common Minimum Program’ (CMP) that hinges on the revocation of AFSPA?” Kamaal said.
NC provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani lashed out at the PDP-BJP Government for failing to fulfill its promises to the flood-victims and playing with the honor and dignity of the State. “PDP told us they wanted immediate elections in the middle of the flood havoc on the promise that they would carry out the comprehensive rehabilitation of the flood victims. Contrary to this, after coming to power in an unholy marriage of convenience with the BJP, Mufti Sahab’s Government clearly opposed the Rs 44,000 crore flood relief and rehabilitation package submitted by the previous NC-led State Government. Till today the prospects of rehabilitation continue to be elusive while thousands of flood victims suffer due to the State and Central Governments’ apathy and indifference.
Senior NC leader and MLA Kangan, Mian Altaf expressed disappointment at the state of affairs in the State and said the State was rudderless while the Government was virtually missing on the ground. He said all the promises which were made have been effortlessly abandoned by this unholy alliance. The people are suffering. The treasuries are running dry and thousands of employees are without their salaries and contractors continue to wait for their payments. Funds meant for development are lapsing while the State Government continues to be paralyzed and clueless.
The convention was also addressed by senior leaders Mubarak Gul, Peer Mohd Afaq, Shameema Firdous, Ali Mohammad Dar, Irfan Ahmed Shah, Showkat Ahmed Mir, Ghulam Qadir Pardesi, Ghulam Nabi Shaheen and provincial youth president Salman Ali Sagar.
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