NC’s fight is for restoration of constitutional guarantees, not just Statehood: Ruhullah

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 28: Member of Parliament Syed Agha Ruhullah today said that the National Conference’s fight is for the restoration of constitutional guarantees for J&K, not just Statehood.

Click here to watch video
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, the MP reiterated the party’s stance that it would approach the Supreme Court if the process is delayed, emphasizing that their “fight” goes beyond the restoration of Statehood.
“My party can go to court, but I would remind everyone that the fight is beyond that – it is about restoring the constitutional guarantees that were taken away from us in 2019,” he said.
The MP said that while the BJP has claimed it would restore Statehood – a promise reiterated in Parliament and by its “allied teams”- for the NC, the issue is much deeper.
“For the NC, it’s not just about Statehood, but about restoring the status that was guaranteed by the Constitution at the time of accession. Our fight is to reverse the decisions made on August 5, 2019,” he said.
It is worth noting that NC President and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah has already stated that if there is a delay, the party will approach the court.
Both Dr. Farooq and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have also asserted that Statehood is the right of the people of J&K, not a favour.
Ruhullah also spoke about the issue of rationalizing the reservation process, regarding which the report of the Cabinet Sub Committee has already gone to the Law Department for a review.
He said that delaying the rationalization of the reservation policy in J&K amounts to injustice against students.
The MP said he had expected the process to be completed this week and stressed that any further delay would be a grave injustice to students eagerly awaiting the changes.
“The more it is delayed, the greater the injustice to students, especially as exams are ongoing. The rationalization should be implemented in J&K as soon as possible,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to students, and they are waiting for the report to return from the Law Department. I had hoped it would happen this week,” he added.
On the issue of allowing Muharram processions along traditional routes, the MP said that when the processions were previously permitted, he had cautioned that it would be used for “propaganda.”
“In Parliament, the Home Minister claimed that Muharram processions were never allowed in Kashmir before, and that this Government made it happen. He even attempted to stoke a Shia-Sunni divide,” Ruhullah said.
He criticized the Home Minister for equating the permission to hold Muharram processions with reopening cinemas and other activities, presenting them as signs of normalcy post-2019.
“If the Government were truly serious about religious freedom,” he said, “then the gates of Jamia Masjid would not be found closed on Fridays. Even on Eid, prayers were not allowed.”

The post NC’s fight is for restoration of constitutional guarantees, not just Statehood: Ruhullah appeared first on Daily Excelsior.

News