Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 19: National Conference today demanded restoration of the special status to Jammu and Kashmir that was scrapped by the Centre last year.
A joint statement issued by senior party leaders including president of the party, Dr Farooq Abdullah, demanded restoration of Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and was scrapped last year.
“We demand immediate annulment of all the 5th August 2019 decisions and restoration of the 4th August 2019 Constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir”, the statement said.
It is stated that revocation of 5th August 2019 decisions and unconditional dialogue with all the stakeholders is pivotal to the lasting peace and prosperity in the region.
The NC statement said that there is need to restore special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the constitutional guarantees extended from time to time under binding covenants, unconstitutionally, arbitrarily and unilaterally were taken away on 5th August 2019.
The NC welcomed what it said “the apparent shift in the BJP’s stand from belligerence to amity and peace, discernible from the recent statements of Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari, two senior Ministers in the Union Cabinet”.
The NC Members of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Hasnain Masoodi and the senior party leaders Mohammad Shafi Uri, Mian Altaf Ahmad and Devender Singh Rana in a joint statement welcomed the statement of Gadkari that “India is not interested in expansion in land either from Pakistan or China” and that “India only wanted peace and amity”.
It welcomed what is said the bold admission made by the leader of Gadkari’s stature that while he and his colleagues want to make India strong but ” the strength does not come from expansion” and that they want “peace not violence” and to “work together.”
They expressed satisfaction about the change from a hostile and aggressive posture that would day in and day out call for armed adventure across LoC, to a conciliatory posture advocated by Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister in his Jan Samvad address to party cadres.
The NC stated that mere statements won’t create an atmosphere of “peace, love and amity”. “Unless GoI respects the political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir peace can’t be restored in the region”, it said.
They also expressed deep anguish over skirmishes on LoC and LAC and the consequent loss of life and property. “The civilian population in the border areas, it is pointed out, is under huge economic stress and the border skirmishes are to further compound its problems”, the statement said.
They called for opening of all traditional routes including Kargil- Skardu, Jammu- Sialkot, Poonch – Rawalakot, to allow free movement of people across LoC and LAC and to promote people to people contact and strengthen inter- regional trade and cultural links.
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