Statehood can be restored to J-K only if Gagangeer-type attacks stop: BJP's Ashok Kaul

Srinagar, Oct 24: J&K BJP’s General Secretary Ashok Koul Thursday said that if Gagangeer, Ganderbal type attacks would stop only then a final call about restoration of statehood in J&K can be taken.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister are on record about restoration of Statehood to J&K at an appropriate time. Now it’s the Agencies and the Centre that would take a call on whether Statehood needs to be restored,” Koul told reporters in Srinagar on the sidelines of a party function organised to pay tributes to Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that if Gangangeer type attacks would stop only then the call for restoration of Statehood will be taken. “Perhaps the timing of the attack was wrong at Gagangeer, otherwise there would have been casualties of hundreds of workers,” he said.

He said that NC chief Dr Farooq Abdullah has already condemned the incident and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti too, though guardedly. “These incidents need the highest form of condemnation. These are attempts to destabilize the peace and new government in J&K,” Koul said.

He said that earlier it was Kathua, Reasi and Rajouri where innocents were targeted and now it is Kashmir. “Today also a non-local labourer was injured in Tral which again is highly condemnable,” he said.

Replying to a query as to whether there should be talks with Pakistan, Koul said no talks can be held with the neighbouring country unless it hands over militant commanders including Syed Salahudin to India. “Let Pakistan handover Salahudin to India, only then talks can happen,” he said.

About the possibility of restoration of Article 370, Koul said no government in J&K can bring back the Article 370 back. “There should be no confusion in this,” he said—(KNO)