Statehood Restoration: Two independent J&K MLAs launch signature campaign

Srinagar : Amid ongoing political debate over the demand of restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, the two independent Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Rajouri and Surankote constituencies, Wednesday launched a signature campaign.
The MLAs include Muzaffar Iqbal Khan representing Rajouri Assembly Constituency and Choudahry Muhammad Akram, representing Surankote AC. On the occasion, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, MLA Rajouri while talking to reporters said the initiative aims to gather one crore signatures over the next three months to present before the assembly. He said that there was a discontent in the region regarding the changes implemented after August 5, 2019.
The independent MLA said their campaign stands of democratic nature, stating, “This campaign marks the beginning of our demand that we want to present our request to the Union Government in a constitutional and democratic way,” Khan said.
He also criticized claims that certain individuals who, according to him, have misled people into believing that they were happy with the current circumstances in the region.
The MLA further stated, “We want the Union Government to understand that no one in Jammu and Kashmir is satisfied with snatching of statehood and the changes imposed after August 5, 2019.”
Khan said the campaign would take the form of a constitutional movement, and that would reach every corner of Jammu and Kashmir. “We will take this campaign to the people throughout Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Khan highlighted the importance of the initiative, noting that it was a way to show that the people of the region are not happy with the changes brought after the August 5, 2019, decision.
“This is an indication that what happened to us on that day was wrong, and we are not happy with it,” he said