Srinagar, Jul 18 (KNO): Jailed Baramulla MP Er Rashid has backed the National Conference's proposed July 20 statehood protest while accusing it of diluting Jammu and Kashmir's larger political aspirations.
He announced that he would observe a day long hunger strike on July 20 and walk barefoot to Parliament the next day to seek a meaningful dialogue on the region's political future.
In a message sent from Tihar Jail and read out during a press conference organised by the Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) here, Er Rashid, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said AIP would support the statehood protest in the larger interest of the people but clarified that the move should not be seen as an endorsement of the National Conference's "weak and diluted" political stand on various issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
He alleged that the National Conference had failed to pursue the larger political aspirations of the people by limiting its demand to restoration of statehood. Baramulla MP said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had not made sacrifices merely for statehood but for the restoration of all their legitimate political and constitutional rights.
The jailed MP also criticised other regional parties, saying they too must explain what they had done for the restoration of statehood, Article 370 and Article 35A instead of only targeting the National Conference.
Announcing a symbolic protest, Er Rashid said he would observe a day long hunger strike on July 20 in solidarity with the National Conference's statehood protest. He further announced that he would walk barefoot to Parliament on July 21 to press for a meaningful, time bound and result oriented dialogue between the Centre, elected representatives and other stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir.
He reiterated that AIP's support for the July 20 protest should not be interpreted as support for the National Conference's political line, maintaining that the party remains committed to the restoration of the complete political and constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said the party has consistently advocated the restoration of full statehood, Articles 370 and 35A, revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, release of political prisoners, withdrawal of termination orders of government employees, an end to house demolitions, curbs on the use of the Public Safety Act and restoration of all democratic and constitutional rights.
While welcoming the National Conference's decision to hold a statehood protest, Inam Un Nabi termed the move "too little, too late," alleging that restricting the struggle to statehood alone ignored the larger political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)