Srinagar:
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday accused the ruling National Conference (NC) of abandoning its stated commitment to the restoration of special status for Jammu and Kashmir and instead aligning itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s agenda.
PDP leader Waheed Para said the National Conference’s claim of fighting for the restoration of Article 370 has lost all credibility. He alleged that the NC, which once accused others of acting as the BJP’s “B Team,” is now implementing what he termed as the BJP’s political roadmap for Jammu and Kashmir.
Reacting to a memorandum submitted by three National Conference Rajya Sabha members to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Para said the move exposed the NC’s changing political priorities. In the memorandum, the NC MPs sought restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, notification of business rules for administration in the Union Territory, and the transfer of prisoners lodged outside the region back to jails within J&K.
In a post on social media platform X, the PDP stated that the NC had completed the “normalisation” of the events of August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated. The party alleged that by focusing solely on statehood and administrative business rules, the NC has effectively given up its demand for the restoration of special status.
“From branding everyone as the BJP’s B Team to now implementing the BJP’s agenda of statehood and business rules, the National Conference has completed the normalisation of August 5 and cemented what we see as a political alliance,” the PDP said in its statement.
Waheed Para further said that the NC’s election promises regarding the restoration of special status now stand contradicted by its recent actions. “The facade of the NC ‘fighting’ for Article 370 is over. From promising special status during elections to now merely requesting business rules, their stand has completely shifted,” he said.
The PDP maintained that the core political issue of Jammu and Kashmir revolves around the restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees, and not just administrative arrangements. The party said any deviation from this demand amounts to diluting the political struggle of the people.
The National Conference has not yet responded to the PDP’s allegations.
