Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 14: The ruling National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Congress, and Peoples Conference (PC), today criticised the Supreme Court’s reference to the recent Pahalgam terror attack while hearing a petition on the restoration of statehood, saying the people of the region should not be punished for security lapses under central rule.
National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have hope that the Supreme Court will restore their “right to statehood”.
He, however, said not restoring the statehood to J-K because of incidents like the Pahalgam attack was wrong.
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Abdullah claimed statehood was not responsible for terror attacks. “Saying that statehood cannot be restored to J-K because of the Pahalgam attack is wrong. They should remember that many such incidents happened during my time (as Chief Minister) when we had a state and we used to tackle them”, he said.
The PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the remark underscored New Delhi’s lack of confidence in the region’s stability even after revoking Article 370 and downgrading Jammu and Kashmir to a Union Territory.
“This reflects a deeper political and psychological deadlock. Unless New Delhi engages with the political aspirations of the people, it will remain on uncertain footing regardless of the force it deploys,” she said in a post on X.
She urged the Government to correct “past missteps” and start a “sincere process of dialogue and reconciliation” to bring lasting peace and dignity to the region.
The NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq termed the delay in restoring statehood “very disappointing,” noting that the Supreme Court had earlier directed it be returned “as soon as possible.”
Sadiq said people had participated in elections in large numbers and expected their democratic rights to be restored but were instead being punished.
Bandipora MLA and Congress chief whip Nizamuddin Bhat echoed similar concerns, stressing that security cannot improve without trust and cooperation of the people. “The issue of statehood is also a matter of identity. The situation will not be fine without a popular Government and their ownership. Security is tied to people’s participation, not only central control,” he said.
Peoples Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone, meanwhile, strongly objected to individuals filing petitions on such a crucial issue. Calling it “very dangerous,” he said, “How can two people hire a lawyer and approach the Supreme Court to adjudicate on our destiny? Who is presenting our case, and are they competent and honest?”
Lone urged Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to call an emergency session of the Assembly within two days to pass a resolution demanding statehood. “The institution for that is the Assembly, not the Cabinet. Stop persecuting opposition, stop punitive transfers, and make a common front for statehood,” he said.
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