Statehood is not a favour, it is a political right of the people of J&K

Srinagar, September 28: Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) senior leader and MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed, while supporting the resolution on restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, said that Jammu & Kashmir’s political identity and democratic rights must be restored.

“Our political identity was taken away, our political rights were curtailed, our flag was removed and our emblem was taken away. What was taken away from the people of Jammu & Kashmir must be returned to them,” Sheikh Khursheed said.

Taking a dig at the National Conference’s repeated references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2024 commitment on statehood, Sheikh Khursheed while speaking on the NC’s resolution on statehood in Jammu Kashmir Assembly, said the political discourse cannot selectively remember promises according to convenience.

“If the National Conference can repeatedly remind people of Prime Minister Narender Modi’s promise made in 2024, why does it not remind the people of Jammu & Kashmir and the country of the promises and commitments made by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to Kashmiris?Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel. Why is that historical promise not remembered with the same seriousness?” he asked.

He said the question of Jammu & Kashmir’s political rights cannot be confined to statements made in a particular year or by a particular Prime Minister.

“A promise does not lose its political significance merely because the person who made it is no longer in office. The commitments made to the people of Jammu & Kashmir have a history and that history cannot be selectively remembered for political convenience,” Sheikh Khursheed said.

He said restoration of statehood should not be presented as a concession or favour.

“Statehood is about our political identity, dignity and democratic rights. The people of Jammu & Kashmir are not asking for a favour. They are asking for the restoration of what was taken away from them, including their statehood, political identity, flag and emblem,” he said.

Sheikh Khursheed also displayed a poster carrying the Jammu & Kashmir State flag and emblem, with the message: “WE DEMAND WHAT YOU SNATCHED FROM US UNDEMOCRATICALLY.”(KNS)