Controversy created around Article 35-A by J&K Govt to divert attention from main issues: AJKPC

Srinagar: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today said that the controversy around Article 35-A was created by the State Government to divert attention of the people from the real issues. AJKPC said that nothing like that was going to happen in the near future so political parties, including the opposition, should not try to incite people on the issue. However, AJKPC chairman Shafiq Mir said their orgnanisation will not allow any fiddling with the special status of the state. “The present Government has nothing to show in terms of development and tackling unemployment in the state, so they have deliberately created a fear psychosis among the people of the state that Article 35-A will be abrogated. Now, they will try to become hero and claim that it was the Government which saved the special status of the state,” Mr Mir alleged while addressing a press conference here today. “The main cause of the unrest in the valley is the present Government, which has deceived the people severally by taking U-turns on the promises and manifesto they were voted for,” he alleged. Meanwhile, lashing out at opposition parties, including National Conference (NC), he said they should not instigate people to hit the streets over the issue. “They (MLAs and MPs) are the elected representatives of the people. They should find a legal way to fight such conspiracies. They should not ask people to hit the streets as we know what happens when people protest in Kashmir,” he said. Mr Mir further alleged that the Government has been using the tactics of diverting attention of people by raising unnecessary issues from the very beginning. “When we ask why was a youth killed, the Government says we will open more Cross-Line of Control (LoC) routes for trade between the state and Pakistan administrated Kashmir (PaK). When we ask why is the Government not addressing unemployment issue, it says that trade with Pakistan will be increased. When we ask them to talk to our youth to address the alienation among the common masses, the Government says the India and Pakistan should have talks,” he added. He said AJKPC during a day-long convention adopted a resolution, seeking personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Kashmir unrest with the assurance that all the constitutional rights guaranteed to the people would be protected and strengthened. He said the resolution also demanded holding of Panchayat elections in the state as soon as possible.