The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) has strongly condemned the alleged house arrest of its president and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone on the death anniversary of his father, veteran separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone.
On the 24th anniversary of his father’s assassination, Sajad Gani Lone claimed he was placed under house arrest in Srinagar. The party also alleged that authorities restricted other leaders from visiting his grave to pay tributes.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the party described the move as “unfortunate and undemocratic”. The statement said preventing a son from paying tribute to his “martyred father” had hurt public sentiments.
“Restricting the President of the JKPC and MLA Handwara from paying tribute to his martyred father is unfortunate and undemocratic. Such actions hurt public sentiments and weaken democratic values,” the statement read.
The party also voiced concern over the restrictions imposed on Sajad Lone, and said democratic rights and political expression should be respected as per the Constitution of India, which guarantees freedom of movement.
Abdul Ghani Lone’s death anniversary is observed every year on May 21. The prominent Kashmiri nationalist political leader and founder of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) was assassinated by militants on this day in 2002.
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