Sopore: Jammu Kashmir People’s Conference Sr. Vice President and former minister Abdul Gani Vakil slammed the BJP government for snatching the special status of J&K and reducing it to a UT.
“It has been three years since Article 370 was de-operationalized and J&K state was reduced to Union Territory. I want to ask the BJP what have they achieved so far apart from creating a huge wedge between people of J&K with rest of the country and distancing people from mainstream,” he said while addressing a party workers convention in Warpora, Sopore Constituency.
He said that Article 370 was virtually a bridge between J&K and the rest of the country but it is unfortunate that the present dispensation at centre is hell-bent on further disempowering the people of J&K.
“The only thing that the revocation of Article 370 has achieved so far is a complete abrogation of democracy in J&K and zero development and record increase in unemployment and scams,” he added
Vakil said it is a shame that J&K has been without a popular government for more than four years now and if the Government of India intends to strengthen the institution of democracy in J&K, it must end the Bureaucratic Raj and hold assembly elections without delay.
While addressing the gathering Vakil said after becoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first visit to Kashmir valley assured and promised publicly to strengthen Kashmiriyat, Jamhuriyat, and Insaniyat but it has proved a hollow slogan. Instead of strengthening Kashmiriyat, he abrogated Article 370 and deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of J&K. People’s Conference will continue a peaceful and constitutional fight for the restoration of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Former Minister, also said that despite tall claims, the LG administration has failed to root out corruption in J&K. Citing the example of the recent SI recruitment scam Vakil said instead of punishing the corrupt, the LG administration is punishing the people who have been selected on merit. Young boys and girls are on the roads protesting every day and the administration is watching as a mute spectator.
