PDP committed to fight for restoration of special status: Sartaj Madni

Baramulla, Dec 29: PDP Vice President Sartaj Madni today said that his party is committed to fight for restoration of special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

He described the recent protest against the reservation policy led by National Conference (NC) MP Agha Ruhullah as a "stage-managed drama"  outside the Chief Minister’s office. Madni  said that  issue must  be taken up in appropriate forums like the Parliament or the Assembly.

“It is hypocracy and nothing else. Why do not they raise the issue in Parliament, where they have three members, including one from Ladakh, or in the Assembly, ” Madni said while speaking to reporters here.

NC MP from Srinagar, Ruhullah Mehdi, along with PDP's Iltija Mufti and party MLA Waheed Parra, staged a major protest on December 24 against the recently amended job reservation policy outside the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.

Madni said that the PDP leaders joined the protest to show solidarity with students impacted by the amended job reservation policy, however, the party views the protest as theatrical. “Whenever there was an issue during the PDP Government, we would directly approach the Chief Minister’s office—whether Mufti Mohammad Sayeed or Mehbooba Mufti—to raise our concerns, instead of staging protests on the streets,” he said.

PDP Vice President was in Baramulla today and  held a meeting with party workers to finalise plans for commemorating Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s anniversary on January 7.

On the issue of statehood, Madni stated that for the PDP, the restoration of Article 370 and 35A remains a priority over statehood. “Our fight is for the restoration of special status,” he said. “Statehood is not a huge issue and will eventually be granted, but the major struggle is for the restoration of our special status,” he added.

Regarding governance, the PDP leader criticised the current administration, claiming there has been no relief for the common people. “The major achievement for the National Conference is the decision to purchase four vehicles worth Rs 136 lakh for the Chief Minister,” he said.