A day after the unionist political parties of Jammu and Kashmir, including National Conference and People’s Democratic Party, reiterated their stance on Gupkar Declaration and demanded pre-5 August 2019 status, senior national congress leader, P. Chidambaram saluted “the unity and courage of six mainstream Opposition parties who came together yesterday to fight the repeal of Article 370″.
The former Union Minister of Finance and Home Affairs of India, said: “I appeal to them to stand resolutely behind their demand. Ignore the uninformed criticism of self-styled nationalists who do not read history but try to re-write history.”
Last August, New Delhi had unilaterally revoked J-K’s decades-old special status and detained all prominent unionist leaders. Many, including former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, continue to be under detention.
“The Constitution of India contains many examples of Special Provisions for states and asymmetric distribution of power,” Mr. Chidambaram added. “How will the government resolve the Naga issues if it is against making Special Provisions?”
“We are committed to strive for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and the restoration of the State and any division of the State is unacceptable to us. We unanimously reiterate that there can be ‘nothing about us without us’, said Dr. Farooq Abdullah (JKNC), Mehbooba Mufti (JKPDP), GA Mir (JKPCC), M Y Tarigami of CPI (M), Sajad Gani Lone (JKPC) and Muzaffar Shah (JKANC) in a joint statement issued here.