Srinagar: The Ruling National Conference (NC) on Wednesday said it would stay away from the Union Territory’s foundation day celebrations on October 31 as it does not accept the status and wants restoration of statehood at the earliest.
“No one from the party will attend the UT foundation day function as we don’t accept the status,” NC chief spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq told reporters here, adding that NC believes the decision taken on August 5, 2019, to bifurcate the erstwhile state into two UTs – J&K and Ladakh — was “illegal, unconstitutional and immoral”.
The NC spokesperson said, “We want the restoration of statehood to J&K as soon as possible so that we can enjoy our status just like the other states.”
Sadiq also said that the government will restore the “Darbar move” — a bi-annual practice of shifting the seat of power between Jammu and Srinagar during winters and summers, respectively.
“Darbar move is a legacy of J&K. We mentioned in our election manifesto that we will restore it. The move is directly linked to statehood and that is why we want its restoration. Once statehood is restored, the Darbar move will also be reinstated,” Sadiq said.
He said “the promises and guarantees made by our party in the manifesto cannot be fulfilled overnight. People of J&K have given us a mandate for five years. Each and every issue will be fulfilled in a gradual manner,” he added.
CPI(M) senior leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami while commenting on the event said “assaulting constitutional rights of the citizens shouldn’t be celebrated”.
“I have not received any invitation as of now,” Tarigami said.
He said Jammu was put under strict restrictions that time, while Kashmir was blacked out where all communication channels were snapped. “This shows how J&K was treated by New Delhi,” he said.
“The denial of rights and assaulting the constitutional rights of the citizens should not be celebrated. It is inappropriate,” he added.
Pertinently, the divisional administration Kashmir is celebrating a foundation day of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on October 31, 2024 at SKICC Srinagar. The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will be the chief guest at the occasion.
