Delay in granting statehood 'sin' against J&K people: Sajad Lone

Srinagar, Oct 25: Jammu & Kashmir Peoples’ Conference (JKPC) president Sajad Gani Lone Friday said that the central government needs to move fast on some issues, while as delay in granting statehood is a sin against the people of J&K.

He said the statehood, which was taken away by New Delhi on August 05, 2019 is not a charity that the central government will think over it, rather it is the right of people of Jammu & Kashmir.

Taking to micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter) the JKPC president Sajad Gani Lone said: “Irrespective of the political differences that we have here amongst us, the union government needs to move fast on some issues. Delay of even a moment in granting statehood is a sin against the people of J and K”.

“Statehood is our right not charity that the union government will think upon or ponder. Why should they delay it. Why did they take it away in the first place,” Lone said on X.

While questioning the Supreme Court whether relegation of a State to UT was within the realm of law or outside the realm of law, Lone said: “And may I ask the Supreme Court that in disposing off the petition on statehood, there is one question which they left unanswered. Was the relegation of a state to UT within the realm of law or outside the realm of law? Why didn’t they answer this question? They did not endorse relegation lest it becomes a precedence and yet we are still without a state”.

He said the chief minister of J&K should be an inherent part of security meetings and UT status should not be used as an excuse to exclude the government from vital issues.

“In the interim until we get a state, the CM of J and K should be an inherent part of all meetings related to security. The local inputs in strategising on security are indispensable. Whosoever the CM is— the people of J and K have voted in huge numbers. And the UT status should not be used as an excuse to exclude the government from vital issues. The CM should be a part of all deliberations. Exclusion of the CM is tantamount to humiliating the entire electoral exercise”.

On recent meetings between chief minister of J&K and central leadership, Lone advised Omar Abdullah that everybody knows an elected CM has to work with the centre.

“And an unsolicited word of advice for our CM. Wish you had not gone too far castigating everybody, accusing every one of colluding with BJP. That concept of untouchability, That self righteous drift and now a glorified cheerleader. That is a total comedown. We all know an elected CM has to work with centre. They have to go and meet the PM or other ministers. But there is a difference between constitutional duties and cheerleading”, Lone said on X.