Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Saturday asserted that protecting the unity, integrity of state was the primary goal of the party besides materializing the idea of a welfare state as enshrined in the party program of Naya Kashmir.
National Conferencesenior leaders led by general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar addressedseries of workers convention at Shangus, Kokernag, and Dooru Verinag.
Party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar whileaddressing the workers said, “The primary goal of the party is to protect theterritorial integrity, identity, special status and the pluralistic visage ofthe state. The party has always rendered immense sacrifices for the protectionof the interests of the state. However, the situation our state is facing todayis far more perilous; today our state is facing onslaught from all sides on itsidentity and unity. Forces as have traditional been against the specialconstitutional position of the state are contriving their level best to obliterateArt 370, Art 35-A; however our party will not allow any such gambit tomaterialize. The party will continue to tread the path that was taken to it in1931. Our agenda is pretty clear and unambiguous; it is to work towards thesocio, political and economic emancipation of the people of the state. Ourvision of development is not impaired by the bug of fanaticism, bigotry andregionalism. We have traditionally worked for every section of the society. Wewill continue to work with the same passion.”
While instilling confidence into the party workers partyprovincial president Nasir Aslam Wani said that Art 370, Art 35-A were thearticles of faith for the party. “The articles are as necessary and pivotal forJammu and Ladakh regions as they are for Kashmir. These articles besidessanctifying the constitutional bond between the state and the center protectthe rich culture of all the regions of the state. Above and beyond that thearticles protect the exclusive right of the people living in all the regions ofthe state in jobs, scholarships. If the articles are done away with the youthof the state notwithstanding which region of the state they belong to will besnatched of their exclusive right over the jobs, scholarships in the state.Moreover the local youth of the state will find it very difficult to getadmissions in the colleges and universities of the state. However, if we continue to forge unityamongst ourselves no one would dare to touch it. The need of the hour calls forjoining our efforts for the protection of the special status of the state. Theway people have reposed their faith in the party during the parliamentelections show that the people of the state deem it able to shoulder themission of protecting the interests of the state.”
Addressing the workers party’s state secretary Sakina Itoosaid that the state of J&K belongs to its people, “The people of the stateare the lawful owners of this land. For past five years we dint see the centralgovernment do any thing towards bringing rapprochement and reconciliation inthe state.”
Referring to the restoration of autonomy she said, “Wefirmly believe that restoration of the autonomy will satiate the developmentand other need of the all the regions of the state. In this direction our partyhad already got the recommendations of the state autonomy committee passed bythe legislative assembly with 2/3rd majority. We believe restoring autonomy tothe state will clean the cobwebs of mistrust between the centre and the statebesides providing for the local needs of the people across the state.”
Among others district President Anantnag Altaf Kaloo,Muhammad Shafi, Advocate Riyaz Ahmad Khan, Syed Tauqeer, Peer Muhammad Hussain,Adv. Abbas Dar, and G N Adigami also addressed the gatherings.