JKPC laments denial of democracy to J&K

The J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) convened a meeting today under the leadership of JKPC President, Sajad Gani Lone. The meeting witnessed the participation of the party’s top leadership, where deep anguish was expressed regarding the prevailing state of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.“It is with great sorrow that we observe the continuous denial of democracy and statehood in J&K. It is disheartening that amidst a population of 1.4 billion people in our nation, not a single soul outside the state seems visibly perturbed by the denial of democracy and statehood to J&K. Let it be etched in everyone’s memory that, for the first time since 1947, a state has been downgraded to a Union Territory. This sad state of affairs has relegated J&K, once the crown of India’s mainland politics, to mere tokenism”, said a statement issued by the party.PC leadership also strongly challenged the notion that Jammu and Kashmir lags behind other states in terms of development and asserted it is imperative to address the misguided perception that J&K was lagging behind.“Even if we momentarily assume, although falsely, that there existed a developmental deficit in J&K, does it imply that all other states are surging ahead, leading the global league in development while J&K lags behind? After all, the state administration consists of the same IAS and IPS officers who govern other parts of the country”, they said.The statement further added that today, the people of J&K find themselves standing alone and isolated, with no political party willing to champion their cause. “We fervently appeal to all political parties not to visit J&K as part of Parliament Standing Committees purportedly overseeing development in Union Territories. By participating, they inadvertently endorse the decision to downgrade J&K to a Union Territory. If these political parties genuinely stand for democracy and the right of the people of J&K to elect their own government, they should unequivocally refuse to partake in such meetings”, the statement added.PC leadership also reiterated its unwavering commitment to upholding democracy, justice, and the rights of the people of J&K. “We implore all concerned stakeholders, both within the state and across the nation, to reflect upon the gravity of the situation and unite in our quest to restore democracy and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.”Among those who attended the meeting include Sr Vice President Abdul Gani Vakil, Vice President and Media Head Syed Basharat Bukhari, Vice President Nazir Ahmed Laway, Chairman Parliamentary Committee Nizamuddin Bhat, General Secretary Mansoor Hussain Soharwardy, General Secretary (Head Office) Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Provincial President Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Adv Bashir Ahmed Dar, State Secretary Mohammad Abbas Wani, Chief Organiser Rashid Mehmood, Farooq Chi Chi, President Central Zone Hilal Ahmed Rather, Vice President Central Zone Manzoor Wani, DDC Chairman Kupwara Irfan Panditpori, DDC Vice Chairman Haji Farooq, Kaneez Fatimah, Spokesperson Adnan Ashraf Mir, Provincial Secretary Irfan Mattoo, District President Baramulla Asif Lone, Sajad Alam, Ab Rashid Lone, Youth President Mudasir Karim and Political Secretary to PC President Tasaduq Yaseen.