Srinagar, 09 Aug (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar on Sunday described 09 August 1953 as one of the darkest chapters in the democratic history of the country saying the events of that day not only dismantled a democratically elected government in Jammu and Kashmir but also inflicted a deep and enduring wound on the relationship between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi.

In a statement issued from the party headquarters, Nawa-e-Subha, Sagar said the illegal arrest of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, one of the tallest political figures in subcontinent, represented a grave assault on democratic values and the political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“9 August is not merely a date on the calendar. For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it is a painful reminder of a betrayal that shook their faith in democratic institutions.

Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was not an ordinary political leader. He was a towering voice of the people, a champion of secularism and democratic values, and a leader whose contribution to the country’s democratic and secular ethos was recognised even beyond Jammu and Kashmir. Former President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy had referred to him as Sher-e-Bharat. Yet, on this day, his democratically elected government was removed and he was arrested,” Sagar said.

He said the events of 1953 did not end with the dismissal and arrest of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. “He was incarcerated for years and kept away from his people. An entire generation of Kashmiris grew up witnessing the consequences of that rupture. The political wound was never allowed to heal completely. Instead, successive developments continued to deepen the sense of alienation and hurt,” he said.

Sagar said the events of 5 August 2019 further aggravated those sentiments. “The wounds of 1953 were still alive in the collective memory of our people when the unilateral decisions of 5 August 2019 were imposed upon Jammu and Kashmir. Whatever little trust remained was shaken further. It was as if salt was poured into a wound that had been festering for decades,” he said.

He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir nevertheless demonstrated remarkable political maturity by choosing the democratic path and participating in elections despite their disappointments and grievances.

“Our people were repeatedly told that delimitation, parliamentary elections and legislative elections would pave the way for the restoration of Statehood. They believed those assurances. They participated in the democratic process.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThey voted. They elected their representatives. They fulfilled their responsibility. But nearly two years after the formation of the elected government, the promise of restoration of Statehood continues to remain unfulfilled,” Sagar said.

He questioned how long the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be expected to wait for a right that was promised to them.

“How many more elections must the people participate in? How many more assurances must they hear? How long must Jammu and Kashmir remain the only region where an elected government operates without the full constitutional status enjoyed by every other full-fledged state?” he asked.

Sagar said the continued denial of Statehood was not merely an administrative issue but a question of democratic dignity, political confidence and constitutional trust.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have done their part. They have demonstrated faith in democracy despite a painful history. Now New Delhi must do its part. Promises made to the people cannot be reduced to slogans or deferred indefinitely,” he said.

He said the continued delay had created the unfortunate impression that the Centre still viewed Jammu and Kashmir through the same political prism that had defined its approach in 1953.

“Nearly seven decades after 1953, it is deeply unfortunate that the people of Jammu and Kashmir still have to struggle to convince New Delhi that democracy cannot be selective, federalism cannot be conditional and dignity cannot be negotiable,” Sagar said.

He emphasised that restoration of full-fledged Statehood must be the first concrete step towards healing the political wounds of Jammu and Kashmir.

“An elected government cannot be expected to function indefinitely with its constitutional powers diminished and its people denied the status promised to them. Jammu and Kashmir deserves the same democratic dignity and constitutional standing as every other state of the country,” Sagar said.

Recalling the sacrifices and contribution of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to the country, he said their commitment to democracy and the nation could not be questioned. “Our people have stood by the democratic and secular ideals of this country through the most difficult periods. They have participated in elections, sent their representatives to Parliament and the Assembly, and repeatedly chosen the ballot over despair. The least they deserve in return is respect, dignity and the restoration of their constitutional rights,” he said.(KNS)