Srinagar: Lok Sabha member and Awami Ittehad Party chief, Engineer Rashid, on Friday criticized the Omar Abdullah-led Cabinet for passing a resolution for the restoration of statehood, which the Centre had already agreed to, instead of a resolution for the restoration of Article 370.
Addressing a press conference, Engineer Rashid said that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was dismissed as Prime Minister in 1953, and when he later became chief minister, he didn’t fight to reclaim what he had lost, instead remaining content with the CM position. He added that Omar Abdullah is following the same path, as once he assumed office as chief minister, he stopped advocating for Article 370 and shifted focus to the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, which the Centre had already agreed to.
The AIP chief also stated that while they campaigned for the restoration of Article 370, they are now silent on the issue and instead demanding statehood. “The NC is aligned with the Centre, and the Centre is equally supportive of the NC government. They indirectly back NC to secure a majority in Jammu and Kashmir, which is why NC distanced itself from Congress after the election results, a move influenced by the BJP. Even independent MLAs later joined NC,” he said.
He also questioned the purpose of the Gupkar Alliance, an all-party coalition formed after August 5 in Jammu and Kashmir, asking what its true motive was. “NC, PDP, Tarigami, and Sajad Lone should now clarify why it was formed and for what purpose. It was created only to divert the attention of the people after August 5, 2019,” he said. (NVI)
