Majority of Kashmiris victims of torture, unjust detentions, extrajudicial killings by NC: Sajad Lone

Srinagar, April 21: In a scathing attack on Jammu Kashmir National Conference, J&K Peoples Conference chief, Sajad Lone on Sunday said that "he is proud to stand among the 99% of Kashmiris who have been on the receiving end of JKNC's misrule."

He said that the "majority of Kashmiris have been the victims of brutality, imprisonment, torture, unjust detentions under the PSA, and extrajudicial executions at the hands of a powerful 1% minority of the National Conference."

NC has contributed to create martyrs' graveyards in almost every village and town, Lone made these remarks while addressing a large gathering in Nihalpora area of Pattan in north Kashmir's Baramulla.

Lone is fighting JKNC's Vice President and the former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Baramulla constituency.

Lone said the JKNC were at the helm of affairs when thousands of innocent Kashmiris were killed.

"They implemented oppressive laws such as POTA and PSA. They also made police verification mandatory, pushing people to the wall," he asserted.

Lone was seen wearing a multi-coloured turban as he continued to attack NC, saying, "despite all their oppression, they shamelessly seek to portray majority of victims as the agents of Delhi."

"They must answer for their 50-year rule post-1975, characterized by developmental stagnation, oppression of Kashmiris, incarcerations and their shameful complicity during the abrogation of Article-370. If they can address these issues convincingly, we shall extend our sincerest apologies," Lone said as per an official press release from his office.

Criticising Omar Abdullah, Lone said that Omar endorsed human rights violations during his tenure under the Vajpayee government amid unrest in Kashmir.

While terming the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as pivotal, Lone asked people to rally behind his party.

"I pledge to represent the people's grievances and aspirations in the Parliament with unwavering courage and conviction," he said.

The gathering, attended by thousands of dedicated workers, witnessed a significant moment as senior political leader Riyaz Ahmad Sheikh from Singpora, Pattan and  a social activist Irshad Pandit from Sariwarpora officially embraced the party.