KINS Desk
Srinagar, Aug 29 (KINS): The National Conference in its all-important Political Affairs Committee meeting in Srinagar on Saturday, the first since August 5 last year, was seeking to devise a strategy to get the Article 370 restored to Jammu and Kashmir both as part of the party agenda and the Gupkar Declaration, the reiteration of which was made last weekend.
According to the National News Paper, the Tribune, the meeting chaired by party president Farooq Abdullah was attended by senior party colleagues, including Mohammad Shafi Uri, Abdul Rahim Rather and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah — who is the second most powerful man in the party after Farooq Abdullah.
Sources said the National Conference was deliberating about its strategy that could synergise with other signatories of the Gupkar Declaration to carry forward the agenda till it is realised.
Article 370 and Article 35 A, that granted special status and exclusive rights of land and jobs to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir state, were revoked on August 5, 2019. The state of Jammu and Kashmir was also divided into two Union Territories.
The National Conference and five other parties have pledged to restore the status of Jammu and Kashmir. The other signatories to the joint statement reiterating this demand are the PDP, the Peoples Conference, the Congress, the Awami National Conference and the CPI-M.
Sources said that the National Conference meeting discussed that what would be the strategy that would be peaceful but effective in securing the goal of real autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir beyond the symbolism.(KINS)
