Srinagar, June 8 (KNS) : Senior Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader and MLA Langate, Sheikh Khursheed, on Monday expressed hope that the ongoing INDIA Bloc meeting in New Delhi would address the pressing political concerns of Jammu and Kashmir, including the restoration of Article 370, Article 35A and full statehood.
In a statement, Sheikh Khursheed noted that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, representing the National Conference and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, representing the PDP, were participating in the INDIA Bloc deliberations in Delhi.
He remarked that while leaders from different political parties in Jammu and Kashmir come together under the INDIA Bloc platform in Delhi, they rarely engage collectively on the region's critical political issues within Jammu and Kashmir itself.
"It is unfortunate that leaders who do not sit together in Kashmir to discuss the political future and interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir readily share a platform in Delhi when invited by the INDIA Bloc," Khursheed said.
The AIP legislator stressed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir expect their political representatives to jointly advocate for the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A, the return of statehood and the reversal of what he termed the "political disempowerment" of the region.
Sheikh Khursheed said that if Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti succeed in persuading the INDIA Bloc to issue a joint statement supporting the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status, statehood and other political rights, it would be a significant step.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel"In such a situation, Awami Ittehad Party and I personally would salute both leaders for genuinely representing the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
However, he cautioned that if their participation in the meeting remains limited to discussions on the BJP's promise of restoring statehood while avoiding the issues of Article 370 and Article 35A, the exercise would amount to little more than political posturing.
"If they fail to compel the INDIA Bloc to include the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A in its political agenda, then this meeting will be a futile exercise aimed merely at preserving political relevance and misleading the people of Jammu and Kashmir for political interests," Khursheed asserted.
He further expressed hope that the INDIA Bloc would issue a comprehensive statement addressing not only statehood but also the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, alleged political disempowerment, ongoing detentions, demolitions, terminations and other issues affecting the people of the Union Territory.
"Otherwise, Awami Ittehad Party believes there is little justification for participating in such meetings if the core political concerns of Jammu and Kashmir continue to be ignored," he added. (KNS)