Srinagar, Dec 30: Awami National Conference (ANC) on Friday said that it will welcome Bharat Jodo Yatra on its arrival in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued to the Rising Kashmir, the ANC President Begum Khalida Shah said that people of J&K welcome the Bharat Jado Yatra that has rekindled a ray of hope of a secular and a democratic India – “A home to all religions.”
She said the senior Vice-President ANC, Muzaffar Shah will receive yatra. “The people of Jammu & Kashmir are thankful to Rahul Gandhi for showing singlehanded courage, conviction and determination to unite the nation for shared love against the forces of hatred challenging the solidarity and inclusiveness of the country.
Begum said the people of J&K stand united with the massive majority in the country that want to end the hateful and divisive politics being played in the name of region and religion in the country.
The ANC Chief said that Kashmir historically has been bedrock of pluralistic culture, ethos and a fountain head of secularism. “It was these criteria alone that Kashmir established its relations with the Union of India in 1947 when her father Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah threw in his lot with a democratic, social and secular India by aligning with the founders of modern India led by Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.
She said in spite of major political upheavals and constant erosion of its constitutional guarantees and special status that Kashmir has witnessed since 1953, the people of J&K continue to maintain their secular and democratic character.
The ANC Chief further stated that today it is the duty of all major political parties in the country along with the social fabric to join hands and bring back the country on its original path of secular credentials, religious tolerance and social values as enshrined in the Constitution.
Begum Khalida Shah hoped that Congress would stand alongside with the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to play a decisive role in ensuring that the Constitutional Rights and guarantees enshrined in the constitution of India.
