Faizan Ahmad
Srinagar July 01 (KINS): Chairperson Peoples Conference Sajad Lone Thursday said that boycotting elections would yield no results in Jammu and Kashmir.
“There is a need to understand that boycotting elections has yielded no results. We should look at the other side as well as keeping away the opponents could be a trap. We have boycotted elections for 15-20 years, what if it is a trap to scare away all the good people and bring in their proxies? Look at the other point of view, if the opponents create conditions for you not to enter the fray, think for a moment, it might be a trap. The leadership would have to look at both the sides,” Lone said at a press conference according to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
“I will not say that I will boycott the elections and the party will contest. We are all equal. I am not more moral than them. I’m not superior to them. If something is haram for me it is haram for them too,” he said.
He was referring to the statements of former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti who said they won’t assembly polls.
After attending the All Party Meeting (APM) in New Delhi, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti has said she would not contest any elections until the special status of Jammu & Kashmir is restored. “This issue is not merely a political slogan and I will not contest any election till 35A and 370 are restored. Be it months or years, we’ll restore Article 370 in J&K as it’s a matter of our identity,” she said.
While on Saturday when media asked National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah over Mehbooba’s statement and whether he would contest elections till restoration of statehood, he replied, “I personally believe I will not fight polls.”
Omar also said that they will fight for the reversal of August 5, 2019 decision politically, constitutionally and peacefully. “No leader stated in the meeting that they accept August 5, 2019 decision. We told the meeting that people of J&K are angry and they want roll back of the decision,” he said.
Omar said now they can’t befool the people by stating that “we will get Article 370 back from PM Modi.”
Sajad said participants from Jammu and Kashmir in the All Party Meeting made their people proud and reflected their pain in befitting manner.
He said it obvious that those who will go to New Delhi to represent people can never disrespect the sentiments of people. “I would give equal marks to all those who participated and spoke in the meeting,” he said.
“As on date, there are no winners or losers. It is a long process. We have to ensure that New Delhi delivers and we have to make an enabling environment for them to deliver and that cannot be done by rhetoric. India is a land of elections. There is an election after every six or eight months. Let us not resort to rhetoric and create an environment where delivery becomes difficult. If delivery becomes difficult or delayed, there is only one loser and that is the people of J&K,” he said. (KINS)
