The Peoples United Front (PUF) on Wednesday said it was ready to join a common platform with other political parties for safeguarding J&K special status.
“Today, we are offering support to National Conference,Peoples Democratic Party, Sajad sahib…we know that they are responsible for allevils. But this is not the time for blame game. We appeal them for unity. Ifthey want to form one regional party, we are ready for it. We are ready to giveup our existence and identity to counter conspiracies from New Delhi,” said PUFleader Er Rasheed, addressing a press conference here.
He was joined by other party leaders including Shah Faesal,Javaid Mustafa Mir and party members. “This is not the time for blame game. If we indulge in blame game, thenwe will not reach anywhere,” Rasheed urged his political opponents.
Criticizing National Conference vice President Omar Abdullahfor his remarks that the state parties should wait for Prime Minister NarendraModi’s statement in the wake of apprehensions that Article 35A might betinkered with, Rasheed said for the past four five days the PUF has been urgingfor an all party meeting.
He said after PDP President Mehbooba Mufti asked NationalConference President Farooq Abdullah to call the meeting the PUF has been”trying it’s best” to ensure the meeting takes place.
“Farooq sahab agreed, but Omar sahib said we must wait forthe Prime Minister’s response. We want to correct him… New Delhi doesn’t askanyone before doing anything. When Afzal Guru was hanged, Omar sahib was thechief minister and he is on the record having said in the Assembly that he wasnot informed about it (the hanging). We want to tell Omar sahib that wheneverDelhi has to do anything, it does not give a whiff of it to anybody …when lateSheikh Mohammad Abdullah was arrested in 1953 from Gulmarg, he had gone thereas Prime Minister. He had no idea that an SPO rank officer will arrest him,”said Rasheed.
Faesal hailed role of Jammu Bar Association for comingforward in support of the Article 35A. “They talked in defence of Article 35A.It is very important for us since it was being said that Article 35A has beenmade for interests of Kashmiris only. Article 35-A is in the interests of allthree regions of the state including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir. It was includedas a provision in Constitution of India on the basis of historical identity,”said Faesal.
Another PUF leader, Javed Mustafa Mir said they had hopedthat BJP will resolve Kashmir issue since the party had got majority in 2015.
“It was Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Jawaharlal Nehru whosigned accord on Kashmir. Then, they (New Delhi) promised plebiscite. Then,there were slogan like sky is the limit and Insaniyaat ka daiyra mein (withinambit of humanity). What happened to the slogan of Vajpayee jee?’ asked Mir.
He said there was fear psychosis in Kashmir. “I want to tellPrime Minister that you are the PM of the entire country and you will have toprove that. You have to realize that you are our PM too,” said Mir.
Responding to the request by the National Conference MPs tothe Prime Minister for a meeting Rasheed said the PM should have given audienceto the MPs.
“Let’s hope that the PM meets them and address theirconcerns,” he said.
The PUF leader also called for an All Party meeting toformulate a future strategy for safeguarding the State’s special status.
Rasheed said at a time when there is talk about delimitationof Assembly segments a perception was being created that Kashmir has less voterpopulation.
“This is not right. The reason for it has been the volatilesituation in Kashmir owing to which the youth here didn’t get enrolled in voterlist. We want to tell our youth who are aged 18 or above that they should getthemselves registered immediately as voters list,” said Rasheed.
Rasheed also said that J&K was not the only State havingspecial status. “We have a question for BJP. Let the party decide whether it isbigger or India is bigger. Conflicting statements have been coming on Article35A, special status, refugees and other issues including delimitation. Werequest New Delhi not to play with fire,” said Rasheed, urging the PrimeMinister to announce dialogue with all stakeholders on Kashmir.
The PUF appealed both India and Pakistan to stop shelling onborders and allow people live peacefully.
Rasheed criticized Governor Satya Pal Malik over his “nonaction” on leaking of government orders which has created scare among people.
“Are these orders in sale at Lal Chowk? Why isn’t Governorsahab taking any action over it?” asked Rasheed.