Srinagar, Aug 5, KDC: Apni Party on Wednesday demanded the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and constitutional rights, including Articles 370 and 35A, while urging the Centre to initiate a “meaningful dialogue” with the people, particularly the youth, to address their grievances and bridge the prevailing trust deficit.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Srinagar on the seventh anniversary of the August 5, 2019 constitutional changes, Apni Party Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir said the party had passed a resolution across district headquarters seeking the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and constitutional rights.
“Today, on the seventh anniversary of the events of August 5, 2019, Apni Party passed a resolution at every district headquarters demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and other constitutional rights. On this day in 2019, the Centre took away our rights and dignity. Apni Party will continue to strive for the restoration of all the rights that existed prior to August 5, 2019, including Articles 370 and 35A,” Mir said.
He reiterated the party’s demand for the immediate restoration of statehood, saying the Centre should honour the assurance given by the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister. “We demand that the Centre immediately restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, as promised by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Home Minister on the floor of the House,” he said.
Calling for engagement with the people, Mir said the Centre should initiate a meaningful dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the youth, to address their concerns and reduce the trust deficit.
“The youth feel insecure and helpless. A meaningful dialogue is essential to bridge the trust deficit and ensure lasting and sustainable peace in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Referring to the domicile law, Mir claimed that following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, the Apni Party leadership had persuaded the Central leadership to safeguard the exclusive rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir over land and government jobs, which eventually led to the implementation of the domicile law.
However, he said the party now wants the residency requirement for domicile eligibility to be enhanced from 15 years to 50 years and sought constitutional protection for the existing safeguards.
“We urge that the residency requirement for domicile eligibility be increased from 15 years to 50 years. We also demand that these protections be backed by a constitutional guarantee to ensure the permanent safeguarding of the land and employment rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Mir alleged that the promises of accelerated development and employment made after the constitutional changes had not materialised, claiming that Jammu and Kashmir today faces the highest unemployment rate in the country along with a significant development deficit.
He also alleged that police prevented party leaders from moving freely in districts including Anantnag, Shopian, Baramulla and Pulwama, preventing the party from passing its resolution there. He said the resolution was, however, adopted by party units in the remaining districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The resolution adopted by the party described August 5, 2019 as the day on which the constitutional guarantees under Articles 370 and 35A were revoked and Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood was taken away. It reiterated the party’s demand for the restoration of statehood, called for a meaningful dialogue between the Centre and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and sought a constitutional guarantee for the domicile law to safeguard the region’s land and employment rights. (KDC)
