The ruling National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir has defended its decision to invite Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to participate in the proposed Jantar Mantar protest demanding the restoration of statehood.
The proposed protest is scheduled to be held on July 20, with political parties across Jammu and Kashmir seeking the early restoration of statehood.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary defended the invitation, saying, “Do you not believe he (Mirwaiz) is a citizen of Jammu and Kashmir?” when asked about the move.
He slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for raising what he described as an unnecessary objection, saying, “How come the BJP is questioning it? Just go and check Mirwaiz’s pictures with its (the BJP's) leaders.”
“As far as the BJP is concerned, it has even included surrendered militants in its fold in Kashmir. Why do you not question the BJP on this account? Does Mirwaiz not have a valid voter ID card and Aadhaar card? Is he not a citizen of Jammu and Kashmir? His political ideology may be altogether different, yet this (NC’s protest) is about statehood—an issue that resonates with us all,” he said.
Choudhary said as a party that represents the people of Jammu and Kashmir, our (NC’s) aim is to include all influential political parties, personalities and civil society groups in the protest so that the Central government understands that everyone in the Union Territory wants the right to be governed by elected representatives to be restored at the earliest.
The National Conference, along with other regional parties, has decided to launch a sustained political campaign for the early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which was reduced to a Union Territory in on August 8, 2019 after its special status was removed.
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