Jammu, Oct 10: The opposition parties of Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday held a strong protest against the BJP government at the Centre, demanding the restoration of democracy in the Union Territory by holding assembly elections.
Scores of leaders and workers from J&K National Conference (JKNC), Congress, the PDP, CPI(M), National Panthers Party (NPP), Awami National Conference, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Awami National Conference (ANC) assembled at Hari Singh Park here and lodged their protest against the Central government. They said there is no democracy in J&K.
“Why are assembly elections not being held in J&K,” the protesters said. They demanded the restoration of statehood for J&K.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, Vikar Rasool Wani while talking to reporters said, “The opposition parties have come together to demand immediate restoration of statehood, democratic and constitutional rights. We will continue our protest for the rights of the people and safeguarding their interests.”
Wani accused the BJP of deliberately delaying elections, saying the saffron party is “fully aware that it will face defeat”.
CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami said they have no hope from the BJP-led central government as all its promises have proved to be false.
Firdous Tak of PDP said that joint protest by opposition parties is a positive sign for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Message from this platform to the country is that all opposition parties need to stand up against the divisive politics of the present dispensation to safeguard the secularism and the idea of India,” Tak said.
