Srinagar, Apr 21: J&K Peoples Conference President Sajad Lone on Sunday said he “stands proud among the 99 percent of Kashmiris who have borne the brunt of National Conference’s misrule rather than aligning with the one percent who perpetrated atrocities”.
Lone made these remarks while addressing a gathering of dedicated workers in Nihalpora, Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district which was organised by PC Senior General Secretary Imran Reza Ansari.
The gathering witnessed a significant moment as senior political leader Riyaz Ahmad Sheikh from Singpora, Pattan and prominent social activist Irshad Pandit from Sariwarpora, officially embraced the party, fortifying its grassroots support, the party said in a statement.
In his address, Sajad Lone said, “The overwhelming majority, comprising 99 percent of Kashmiris, have been the victims of brutality, subjected to imprisonment, torture, unjust detentions under the PSA, and even extrajudicial executions at the hands of a powerful one percent minority of the National Conference.”
He denounced the NC’s decades-long “reign of oppression”, saying, “They have contributed to creating martyrs’ graveyards in almost every village and town. They have been at the helm of regimes which killed thousands of innocent Kashmiris and implemented oppressive laws such as the POTA and PSA, along with the law for mandatory police verifications aimed at pushing the people to the wall. Yet, shamelessly, NC leaders are now seeking to portray this majority of Victims as agents of Delhi.”
Lone questioned the National Conference’s accountability for the “hardships” endured by the local populace, despite their historical dominance in north Kashmir, clinching victory in LS elections nine out of ten times.
“They must answer for their 50-year rule post-1975, characterised by developmental stagnation, oppression of Kashmiris, incarcerations and their shameful complicity during the abrogation of Article-370. If they can address these issues convincingly, we shall extend our sincerest apologies,” he declared.
The PC chief further lambasted Omar Abdullah’s attempts to portray himself as a paragon of virtue, recalling his “tacit endorsement of human rights violations” during his tenure under the Vajpayee government, amidst growing unrest in Kashmir.
Lone said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are pivotal, following the watershed events of 2019. He implored the people to rally behind PC.
“I pledge to represent the people’s grievances and aspirations in the Parliament with unwavering courage and conviction,” Sajad asserted.
