President J&K People’s Movement (JKPM), Shah Faesal Sunday said his party won’t allow the BJP and the RSS to tinker with the special status of Jammu and Kashmir guaranteed under Articles 370 and 35A.
Faesal said that for the last few years the BJP and the RSShave been talking about removing the special status of the state. “But we won’tlet them even to touch this special status,” he said while addressing a publicgathering at Bandipora.
“Protecting special status of the state is our party’s firstwar,” he said.
He castigated the government for imposing “an unprecedentedban” on the civilian traffic on the national highway for two days a week,saying “it was a ploy to further push the Kashmiris to wall”.
“Raids and enquiries by the NIA and the CBI are a partof the sinister game plan to humiliate Kashmiris and curb the voices ofdissent,” Faesal said.
Faesal expressed his anguish over the “ill-treatment ofpolitical prisoners in jails outside the state”.
“There are reports from various jails that politicalprisoners of Kashmir are being ill-treated. Time has come when all thesepolitical prisoners should be released so that a conducive atmosphere fordialogue could be made,” he added.
Faesal promised end to corruption if his party is voted topower.
He said, “We are being asked to vote in the name ofdemocracy and are told we will solve your all problems. After getting votesthey disappear for six years and after six years they again appear only to getvotes and again humiliate us. We will change this culture.”
He said “Today we are declaring war against all thoseelements who want to comprise on the interests of the state. We will go to jailbut won’t compromise on the interests of the state. We won’t compromise on thebrotherhood of the state. We won’t allow those elements to divide the state onthe lines of religion, caste, and tribe.”
He said: “We left our chairs only to give the people ofJammu and Kashmir the rights they deserve. We are not here to be in power. Weare here to provide relief to the people and to restore their honor.”
The party patron Javed Mustafa Mir in his speech called uponpeople to “support the winds of change”.
Senior leader Shehla Rashid also addressed thegathering.
On the occasion, UmerShafi Rather, senior vice-president,south city traders’ and manufactures’ association joined the party. He waswelcomed into the party fold by the JKPM leaders.