‘A new Political Party to fight for restoration of statehood is inevitable’
JAMMU, Jan 10: Hinting of floating a new political front to press for the restoration of Statehood and seeking guarantees for land and job rights, senior Peoples’ Democratic Party leader and former Legislative Assembly member Javid Hassan Beigh Wednesday said that two major mainstream Political Parties National Conference and People’s Democratic Party have been playing very hardball with the Center over Article 370 and 35- A which has made almost impossible for both the parties to come to the negotiating terms leaving scope for a third front like political forum to stand up without actually carrying the baggage of “unfulfilled promises and commitments” ,only to fight for the restoration of statehood and other issues .
Speaking to RNA, the former legislator who was part of the Syed Altaf Bukhari led delegation that met Lt. Governor GC Marmoh on Tuesday, said that the times have changed and so should be the approach of the politicians and the political parties in J&K. He said there was a dire need for the politicians like him to begin the process of reconciliation so that the important issues like restoration of statehood and guarantees for land and job rights are secured from the government of India. While stating that Article 370 had been made very controversial by unnecessary hype and turned into “Article of confrontation”, the Junior Beigh said that
National Conference was advocating of ‘Greater Autonomy’ and PDP spoke about ‘ Self Rule and Duel Currency” but regretted that instead of achieving either of them, the people lost whatever was already in their possession making it extremely difficult for both the parties to renegotiate their stand . He said under these compelling circumstances when the two major mainstream political parties were unable to shed the baggage of their demands and commitments , the emerging of new political front was inevitable and must which would fight for the rights and welfare of the people.
He urged National Conference and PDP Parliament members to press GOI for the restoration of the Article 370. He added, that expecting BJP government to restore the Article 370 when they actually put everything to stake to get it abrogated would be utterly unrealistic, therefore if any expectation need to harbored that must be from the Supreme court where the case is being contested.
When asked if he and his colleagues who were part of the delegation, had withdrawn the demands of seeking restoration of Article 370 , Beigh told RNA that , restoration of special status was not possible under circumstances and added, that LG’s platform was not suitable for the demand .
“It was the parliament that abrogated the Article 370 . Whether the procedure was right or wrong is a separate question. So we must live with the reality and stick to the basic demands which are restoration of statehood and guarantee to Job and land rights protection. We need to talk about the political and civilian detainees also. The internet is not there, the damages caused to Horticulture and tourism industry that has the potential to cripple our economy need an immediate intervention. These are the issues which need to be projected and settled down first.” Said Javid Beigh, adding
“ It took GOI seventy years to abolish Article 370 . It is but natural that it will take 40 to 50 years to get it restored, if at all. . Shall we let people to suffer till that time.” Asked Beigh, hinting that a new political outfit aiming to press for restoration of Statehood was on cards. He added that the road ahead was full of challenges and very tedious and everyone would be required to tread cautiously and inch by inch.
