"Start of process to reclaim what we lost...": PDP's Waheed Para after Presidential rule revoked in J&K

Srinagar, Oct 14: People's Democratic Party leader Waheed Para, said the revocation of the President's rule from Jammu-Kashmir is the start of the process to reclaim what the people lost in the last 6-7 years, adding that people's mandate was for restoring their dignity and protecting their identity.

The PDP leader said that people have pinned a lot of hope on the National Conference, and affirmed hope that the party will fulfil its promises.

Speaking to ANI, Para said, "People of Kashmir have voted for dignity. They have voted for the restoration of Article 370 and statehood. They have voted to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir which was robbed on August 5, 2019. This vote is not only to remove Presidential rule but to restore their dignity and protect their identity. I hope this is a start to the process to reclaim what we have lost in the last 6-7 years."

"People have a lot of expectations from this government. We hope that the coming government will fulfil all the promises that they have made in their manifesto on which they have taken votes," he added.

The President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir was revoked on Sunday, clearing the way for the formation of a new government following the recently concluded assembly elections in the Union Territory.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification in this regard on Sunday.

This development comes two days after National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah met Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Friday to stake claim for government formation. Abdullah submitted letters of support that the NC received in the recently concluded assembly elections.

After his meeting with LG Sinha, Abdullah said that the swearing-in ceremony could take place on Tuesday (October 15) or Wednesday (October 16), as the LG conveyed that completing the necessary paperwork would take 2-3 days.

NC President Farooq Abdullah said on Saturday that the new government's primary goal would be to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

The Congress formally extended its support to the National Conference for forming the government by submitting a letter of backing on Friday.

Support from the Congress, independents, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has paved the way for the National Conference to stake claim to form government in Jammu and Kashmir.

This will be the first elected government in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the former state into two Union Territories.

The 90 seats in the erstwhile state went to polls in three phases, and the results were announced on October 8. The NC-Congress alliance secured 48 seats, with the NC winning 42 seats on its own, and Congress managing only six seats.