SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) Additional General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan on Monday said the party will continue its peaceful democratic campaign until the Centre fulfils its promise of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing party leaders and office-bearers at the NC headquarters in Srinagar, Ramzan said the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional position is inseparable from the restoration of statehood, describing the party’s ongoing movement as both a constitutional obligation and a democratic necessity.
He said the National Conference remains committed to restoring the constitutional guarantees and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the party would continue to pursue the issue through democratic means.
Referring to the party’s statehood campaign, Ramzan said it began on July 11 from the Hazratbal shrine and gained momentum with the recent protest in New Delhi led by NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah. He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, senior party leaders, Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs and leaders of several secular parties had participated in the demonstration.
He said the National Conference would continue reminding the Central Government of its repeated assurances on restoring statehood until those commitments are honoured.
Taking a swipe at political rivals, Ramzan alleged that the BJP’s “A, B and C teams” stayed away from the NC’s statehood movement to avoid displeasing the BJP. He claimed that people had understood what he described as their tacit understanding with the BJP.
Reacting to recent remarks by Mehbooba Mufti in New Delhi, Ramzan alleged that her comments on Kashmiri protesters reflected the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) political mindset. He further accused PDP leaders of attempting to divert attention by alleging that the National Conference had circulated fabricated videos.
Ramzan also urged party workers to remain connected with the people, actively raise public issues at every appropriate forum and work towards resolving them.
