Sajad Lone was released from detention in July this year.
Srinagar:
The BJP deserves credit for bringing together all parties in Jammu and Kashmir in an unprecedented alliance to demand the restoration of the special status of the former state, Kashmiri politician Sajad Lone said on Friday, saying that as “locals and not tourists” they will survive the central government. .
The decision to abolish Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional autonomy from the center was “shortsighted and born of hatred,” Lone told GalacticGaming, a day after regional formations abandoned long-standing rivalries. several decades to fight together for the restoration of article 370. of the constitution.
Former BJP-PDP government minister and now a key architect of the bloc named “Popular Alliance”, Mr Lone said he “felt like an outsider” after being released from a year-long detention and to have seen “foreigners” take over. the reins of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr Lone, who was arrested along with hundreds of political leaders after the center announced the move last August, was released on July 31 this year. He said the common struggle for the restoration of Article 370 would be part of the constitution and aimed to end violence and uncertainty.
“This is a collective mechanism and mainly what was ours has been taken away from us. We will fight peacefully, within the framework of the constitution, as is the right in all regions of the country,” said Mr. Lone.
“We are here to stay, as residents of the state. We are not tourists. National governments come and go. We must resist any decision of the national government for which our children will face consequences. It is our moral duty to stand up against this, ”he said.
He said the center has failed to show a “sense of ownership” in detaining and imprisoning leaders in Kashmir. He alleges that the August 5 decision was “born of hatred”.
“The August 5 decision was very shortsighted, hate-driven unfortunately. The national government is a ‘maai baap’ (patents) for everyone. Maai baap does not lock you up, imprison you. it’s up to them to show that they treat us at the same level as the rest of the country, ”he said.
Traditionally bitter political rivals, the National Conference, the People’s Democratic Party or PDP, the People’s Conference and other groups have decided to keep their individual rivalries in limbo and to fight together to have Section 370 reinstated.
The new political bloc will be led by National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Lone said, adding that they should thank the BJP-led central government for the unthinkable match-making in Kashmir.
“We have to thank Delhi for this alliance, for bringing us together. Delhi has become a perfect partner,” he said.
He alleged that air officials from other states to take the reins of governance in Jammu and Kashmir was “a disaster”.
“Everything has changed. People who do not belong to this place have taken over. This is a group of people who have no idea of the issues and the history of this place. It is a very disastrous, ”he said.
