Hasnain Masoodi files nomination, slams PDP

National Conference candidate for the southern Anantnag parliamentary seat Hasnian Masoodi filed his nomination papers for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections before the returning officer here on Wednesday.

Masoodi, a former high court judge-turned politician, wasaccompanied by the party’s vice-president Omar Abdullah and other seniorleaders to the deputy commissioner’s office in Anantnag, where he filed thenomination papers.

   

Later, Masoodi drove to Qazigund area of the district wherehe addressed the party workers.

Hitting out at the Peoples Democratic Party for”strengthening the hands of BJP in J&K”, Masoodi said: “If the BJPpresident Amit Shah today dares to say that their party would abrogate Articles370 and 35-A, the credit for it goes to the PDP only”.

Masoodi, who is fighting an election for the first time, islocked in a direct contest with PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Congresschief Ghulam Ahmad Mir and BJP candidate and former MLC Sofi Yousuf.

He said that once the PDP “joined hands with RSS in 2014, itprovided the latter a chance to implement its agenda”.

“This election is not like any other election. In a way, itis unique because the identity and special position of Jammu, Kashmir andLadakh are at stake. That is why we have come into the field and I am hopefulthat people will give the saffron forces a befitting reply,” Masoodi said.

He said his party will strive for protecting Articles 35 Aand 370 legally.

On former sadr-e-riyasat and senior Congress leader KaranSingh’s remarks that 1975 accord is “final”, Masoodi said: “The 1952 Delhiagreement forms the basis of Centre-State relation and it has a formal approvalof the parliament and our constituent assembly. So, this is the only agreementand baseline. After that, no other agreement has any antecedent. So, ourparty’s stand has been that the pre-1953 position has to be restored”.

Masoodi also criticised the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and Jammuand Kashmir Liberation Front.

“Jamaat has played a vital role in education and socialupliftment of Kashmiris. So, the ban on this socio-religious organisation isnot acceptable at all,” he said.

He said the JKLF chief Yasin Malik has been advocatingpeaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue since 1994.

“Even a prime minister and a deputy prime minister talked tohim in 2000. So, by banning his organisation, what message do they want toconvey?” Masoodi asked.

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