Srinagar, Dec 9: Sartaj Madni, the Vice President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated on Monday that the party views the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood as a minor concern compared to the greater struggle to reclaim the identity lost on August 5, 2019.
In a media interaction in Srinagar, Madni emphasized that the PDP commits to advocating for the rights and identity of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
“For us, the restoration of statehood is insignificant. The PDP has a much larger role to fulfill,” he remarked. He referred to the promises made by the Prime Minister and Home Minister, saying, “They have already pledged to restore statehood.
I fail to understand why the National Conference makes such a fuss about it.” Madni pointed out that the party focuses on what he considers a more critical issue. “Our identity, which the Constitution of India guaranteed, was taken from us on August 5, 2019. The PDP will persist in its fight to regain that identity,” he added.
He reiterated the PDP’s commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of the residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our battle is to reclaim what rightfully belongs to the people and to ensure their identity is protected and restored,” he stated. When asked about reports of discord between the Omar Abdullah-led government and the Raj Bhawan, Madni responded that the National Conference participated in assembly elections under Union Territory status and understood the implications.
“The people voted for them, and the government has a responsibility to see how they can serve them,” he said. He mentioned that Omar Abdullah once stated he did not want to hold elections under the UT status, noting that he had to seek permission from the Raj Bhawan for something as simple as transferring a class IV employee.
Concerns Over Political Accountability and Governance
“The government must fulfill the promises made in their manifesto and implement them,” he maintained. Madni expressed skepticism about any real rift between the NC and the Raj Bhawan, suggesting they might use it as a tactic to impress the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He pointed out that for the first time since 2002, a party has achieved such a majority with 52 members and questioned why they would not hold themselves more accountable to the people. He also mentioned that the 2014 alliance with the BJP was not a mistake.
On the topic of surveys being conducted on Muslim religious sites in India, Madni commented, “Such actions will lead the country towards ruin.” He noted that the Indian Constitution clearly states that the country’s status quo should remain unchanged since independence in 1947.
“Why are they trying to find a temple beneath a mosque?” he questioned, adding that the ruling BJP has failed to fulfill its promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh into people’s accounts and providing jobs for youth.
Madni accused the BJP of diverting public attention with such tactics, claiming they have consistently spread division between Muslims and Hindus for their electoral gains.
