Asking JK people to celebrate UT Foundation Day “grave injustice”: Karra

Srinagar, Oct 31: J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra said on Thursday that asking people of Jammu & Kashmir to celebrate Union Territory Foundation Day is “grave injustice”.

“You are asking too much from us. The day when Jammu and Kashmir was downgraded and deprived from its due rights will remain a black day for not only Congress party but for every citizen of J&K. So asking us to celebrate this day is grave injustice with us,” Karra told reporters at party headquarters in Srinagar.

He said those glorifying this day have no belief in democracy.

“Expecting from us that we will be part of such events is impossible,” he said.

Replying to a query, the J&K Congress chief said that incumbent chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir should be part of security review meetings, and appealed Lieutenant Governor to follow norms and parameters.

“Since new government formation in J&K, several security review meetings chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha held. But it is not an inclusive and holistic approach if chief minister J&K is not invited. The CM should have been invited after a popular government formed in J&K. It would be my appeal to LG Sinha that the working should be under norms and certain parameters should be followed in this regard,” he said.

He said Congress party is consistent that statehood to Jammu & Kashmir should be restored as soon as possible. “The Congress party will demand statehood to J&K in and outside Legislative Assembly. We maintained it till date and will continue till its restoration. We impress Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to fulfill promises they made on the floor of the Parliament,” he added.