Srinagar: The Sajad Gani Lone-led Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference received a shot in the arm as three former legislators from the NC and the PDP joined the party here on Monday.
Former minister Syed Basharat Bukhari, who recently left the National Conference; former MLA Peer Mansoor Hussain, who was associated with the Peoples Democratic Party since its formation; and former MLC Khurshid Aalam, who had joined the PDP after retiring from services, joined the JKPC at a function here.
The trio was welcomed into the JKPC by party chairman Lone and other senior leaders.
Bukhari said he was happy and given respect in the NC but “I could not get much done”.
“Many people came to me asking me to float a new party, but my conscience did not allow me to float another party as it would have led to the further division of votes,” he said.
“I am proud to be a part of this new team,” Bukhari added as he described Lone as a very practical and sincere man.
Speaking on the occasion, Lone said, “It is with great pleasure that we welcome the three senior leaders of Jammu and Kashmir into our party. They are experienced and mass-based politicians, who will, in the coming decades, play a pivotal role and contribute to the politics and welfare of J&K. Their political acumen and experience will immensely benefit the party. I am hopeful that these leaders will continue to work for the cause of people and help navigate them through these extraordinary and troubled times.”
He said the three former legislators were joining a “political movement” and expressed hope that in the coming years, the JKPC would “play a great and a pivotal role in contributing to the state of J&K, to the politics of J&K”.
“I am hopeful that this caravan of change will get stronger and we will try to play a constructive role in the extraordinary situation in J&K and navigate it through the troubled waters,” he added.
Asked about his party’s stand on the revocation of Article 370, Lone said the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir can be restored either in the Supreme Court or the Parliament.
“We were among the first ones to challenge it (the revocation of Article 370) in the Supreme Court. That is one institution. The other is the people of India, which is the parliament. There is no magic wand other than these,” he said.
Lone said the people of Kashmir have to engage with the people of India and cannot possibly “dream” of getting Article 370 back by not engaging with them.
“You have to engage with them. The ball is in their court and they will decide whether you get it back or not and we have to tell this to our people. The more you speak negatively or irritate them, the more you confirm that it won’t return.
“The more you engage with them, clear misunderstandings with them, clear the image that has been created about us, the more you are going to win the sympathy of those people – the people, the Union government and the opposition,” he said.
Lone said the reality is that “we have failed our people”.
“None among us has gone to talk to them, be it the ruling party or the opposition. I think there is scope and space and we can do things differently. It is a very difficult task, but not impossible,” he said.
Party’s senior vice-president Abdul Gani Vakil, general secretary Imran Ansari, senior leaders Bashir Ahmed Dar, Abid Hussain Ansari, Raja Aijaz Ali, Mohammad Abbas Wani and spokesperson Adnan Ashraf Mir were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Lone also condemned the militant attack in Sopore earlier in the day in which a Block Development Council (BDC) member and his personal security guard were killed and a civilian injured.
“We have always condemned violence in all its forms. It is a reprehensible act committed by the enemies of Kashmir,” the JKPC chairman said.
