Flays PDP-BJP govt for giving ‘free hand’ to NIA in the valley
Even as National Conference’s main objective is to restore the autonomy, the party is willing to go beyond its lifeblood for the larger consensus on Kashmir issue based on the aspirations of people, said party General Secretary, Ali Mohammad Sagar here Sunday.
“National Conference has always strived to restore the internal autonomy as had existed before 1953 in the state. However, on the larger perspective, Kashmir issue should be solved as per the aspirations of its people and our party is willing to accept the verdict of people,” Sagar told on the sidelines of a party function at Khanyar.He said former chief minister and MLA Beerwah Omar Abdullah has made it clear in his tenure in government that Kashmir has not merged with India but has only signed instrument of accession and that the final status of Kashmir has not been settled.
“If you see the speeches of Omar Abdullah, we have made it clear that Kashmir issue is yet to be resolved. And it’s imperative for India and Pakistan to take all its stakeholders on board to resolve Kashmir amicably,” Omar said.
Sagar, who is also MLA Khanyar, said despite having different viewpoints, the party is on the same page as separatist leaders when it comes to the resolution of Kashmir issue.
“Our platforms are different but goals are same. Today all separatists are raising their voices to safeguard the Article 370 and state subject law. I want to ask them who introduced those laws in Kashmir to save our special status, it was National Conference,” he said.
Taking a dig at the PDP-BJP coalition, Sagar said the teams of National Investigation Agency (NIA) have been making frequent visits to the valley in the recent past “giving them a free hand to arrest and harass youth”.
“They are trying to bring 1990-like situation in Kashmir by pushing our youth to the the wall. Every day parents visit me and ask for help to free their sons arrested by teams of NIA from Delhi,” he said, adding that local police has been playing second fiddle.
Sagar also criticised PDP government for failing to formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation package for the 2014 flood victims. “It has been almost one year and still people are not being rehabilitated. If other states can get packages within no time why not J&K,” he added.
Sagar said since PDP has assumed power. “No power projects were returned by the Centre. Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) still exists. Separatists are still under house arrest. Tourist arrivals have come down. What has Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed achieved; all his promises were a just deception to be in a power,” he said.
