Srinagar, September 23 (KNS): DPAP Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday said that statehood and Article 379 can only be restored by Parliament.
Speaking to reporters while campaigning for his candidate in Ganderbal, Azad said that no political leader, except for himself, has spoken in the Parliament about Article 370 since its abrogation.
"No leader has spoken here for 370, only I have given six speeches in Parliament," he said during a recent address. He added that the Prime Minister responded to his speeches by assuring statehood restoration.
Azad further clarified that key issues like statehood, Article 370, and the Legislative Council (MLC) can only be restored by Parliament, regardless of which party is in power. "Statehood, 370, and MLC can only be given by Parliament," he said.
He emphasized the legal requirement for a two-thirds majority to pass such resolutions. "Whether it is Congress, BJP, or any other government, it will need a two-thirds majority," he added.
Speaking on his political contributions, Azad said that he has played a crucial role in granting statehood to various states. "I have given statehood to many states and made recommendations to the Home Minister," he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
He cited examples from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee era, such as the bifurcation of Uttarakhand from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, to illustrate that only Parliament holds the power to make such decisions.
Addressing the political climate in Jammu & Kashmir, Azad expressed his disapproval of the current hard stance adopted by the Union Home Ministry regarding the region. "I am against any hard stand. Political parties should have the freedom to say what they want," he said, adding that the right to free speech must be respected.
Azad advocated for a secular approach in political discourse, urging leaders to maintain pure and respectful language. "Our language should be pure, clean, and secular. It should be for everyone," he said. He added that all religions in India should be treated equally, without discrimination.
"They are implementing autocracy everywhere. I am against autocracy," he said, reaffirming his belief in democracy and secularism. He further said that his party's name, Democratic Progressive Party, reflects his commitment to these values.(KNS)