Committed to restoration of J&K’s special status: PDP

Srinagar, Dec 14: The General Council of the People’s Democratic Party on Saturday reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment” to the party’s foundational principles.
“We resolve to reinvigorate our struggle for peace with dignity for the state of Jammu and Kashmir, using all democratic and constitutional methods to resolve the Kashmir issue, including the restoration of the special status that was enjoyed by our people until August 5, 2019, under the Constitution of India,” the party said in a statement. “The meeting acknowledges the recent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. While the PDP’s performance did not meet expectations, we are confident that the elected representatives can effectively articulate the concerns, aspirations, and opinions of the people.”
PDP urges the Union government and the broader Indian populace about the issues of “disempowerment, deprivation and humiliation” resulting from the “unconstitutional” revocation of J&K’s constitutional rights, Article 370, the statement said.
The meeting expressed hope that the current J&K government will act in accordance with the significant mandate and trust placed in their manifesto and commitments. “However, we note that the initial actions of the current government have not fully met these expectations. We urge the J&K government to recognise the mandate’s true essence and lead effectively,” the party said.
The PDP said the government must take effective measures to address critical issues such as electricity shortages, unemployment the drug crisis, the release of prisoners and the overexploitation of natural resources which are damaging the environment and ecology irreversibly.
“The meeting demands an immediate process to review the status of political prisoners held in various jails across India. We call for the release of all individuals detained on weak or non-existent charges and advocate for transferring prisoners to Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.
“The meeting expresses deep concern over the increasing climate of hatred against Muslims in India. We implore the Prime Minister to leverage his influence to curb violence, dispel false narratives and halt the targeting of Muslims through what we perceive as judicial overreach,” the party said. “We reaffirm our belief in India as a nation that celebrates diversity, mutual respect and the protection of individual rights and beliefs. (KNS)