SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC), People’s Democratic Front (PDF), and Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Justice and Development Front (JDF) on Monday announced the formation of People’s Alliance for Change (PAC), with an aim “to raise the issues of common masses, including restoration of the constitutional position that existed before August 5, 2019”.
The alliance formation was announced at JKPC president Sajad Gani Lone’s official residence here in the presence of PDF president Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, JDF president Shamim Ahmad Thokar and former minister Abdul Gani Vakil.
“PAC is an alliance of those who have suffered. How would Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah know what is victimhood? They only know how to inflict oppression. This is a people’s alliance for change. It is not a third front and everyone can join us,” Lone, a former minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government, told reporters.
“We want reconciliation in Jammu and Kashmir in the true democratic sense. The issue of (incarceration of) Shabir Shah and Jamaat members like Hamid Fayaz have come up. If the government is claiming that everything is fine here now, then give compassion and magnanimity a chance. You cannot keep people in jail forever. It has not worked for the past 78 years. Enough is enough,” he said.
Lone said reservation was another major issue in Jammu and Kashmir that no political party wanted to mention.
“We have earlier said that it is a regional issue. No merit list has more than 30 per cent Kashmiris now. Does any political party raise its voice? They would not, as it is about votes,” he said.
Lone said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cannot play the victim card anymore.
“The victim card will not work. As far as I know, dissolution of assembly is not a prerequisite for granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Whoever says it, is lying. Even the chief minister knows it,” Lone said.
Referring to Abdullah’s recent statement that he was ready to make way for a BJP chief minister if that ensures statehood restoration, Lone said the principal opposition party in the Union Territory “already has its man as the chief minister”.
“As far as the BJP chief minister goes, there is already one — Omar Abdullah. How many do they want? He goes everyday there to pay his respects,” the former minister added.
Lone said that while statehood is necessary, the alliance will always work for reinstatement of the August 4, 2019 position.
“We will always strive for reinstatement of the pre-August 5, 2019 position. Statehood is absolutely necessary, we can go forward after that,” he said.
Lone said the Centre will have to initiative the restoration of J-K’s statehood.
“We have only three members in Parliament. At the end of the day, the ruling party (at the Centre) has to set the ball rolling and give back the statehood. Then we can follow it with what we had on August 4, 2019. But I hope that statehood is restored at the earliest because you are totally in danger until then,” he said.
Asked if going to court for statehood was an option, he said, “It is not easy to move court, since the court has not given any verdict in your favour so far. Either you will get statehood from the court or you are going to the court under some conspiracy to close the chapter forever.”
