NC won’t be part of political process unless Article 370 restored: Kamal

Senior National Conference leader Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday said the NC won’t take part in the political process until the restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu & Kashmir.

In an interview with IANS, Kamal, the brother of detained former Chief Minister and NC chief Farooq Abdullah, said the National conference will not be a part of any political process that doesn’t serve the interests of the people of J&K.

   

“They demolished the special status of Jammu andKashmir. We can’t take part in any political process in this system,” hesaid. “New Delhi will like to manipulate us for changing the demography ofJammu & Kashmir and enslave the people.”

He said those clamouring for the extension of Article 371 toJammu & Kashmir are free to do so but the National Conference won’t budgefrom its stated position.

“We don’t want Article 371, those who want it, let themtake it,” Kamaal said. “They are talking about a third front, letthem go with it, National Conference will not change its position.”

Kamal said, “Article 370 was scrapped to end the Muslim-majority character of Jammu & Kashmir and to pave the way for demographic change.”

He said his party is preparing the ground for moving amotion against the Centre’s “unilateral decision” and is hopeful theSupreme Court will declare the move on Article 370 as unconstitutional.

“We have faith in Supreme Court,” the NC leadersaid. “It is a fact that Article 370 was revoked without taking theapproval of the J&K Assembly.”

He said they were taken aback by the removal of Article 370because both the Governor and the Prime Minister had denied that the Articlewas being revoked.

“Our leaders met with (then) Governor Satya Pal Malikand Prime Minister Narendra Modi and both denied the Article was beingrevoked,” he said.

He said international pressure is mounting on India overKashmir and the present situation cannot continue forever.

He said the National Conference will keep on pressing for anagreement between India and Pakistan for a resolution of Kashmir.

He said he is in touch with Farooq Abdullah and said hewon’t make any “compromise”.

“Farooq Abdullah has always stuck to his principles, why would he change his stand now?” Kamal said. (IANS)

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