Srinagar, Oct 31 (UNI) Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday said Union Territory (UT) Foundation day celebration is a “black day” for the people of JK.
The JKPCC Chief said this while talking to media persons on the sidelines of a function held on the death anniversary of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at the party headquarters in Srinagar today.
“..The statehood to Jammu and Kashmir has been snatched. It is a “black day” for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We are not going to become a part of its celebrations”, Karra said.
All the mainstream parties including Congress, National Conference and Peoples Democratic stayed away from the UT foundation day celebration function organised by the Lieutenant Governor at SKICC in Srinagar.
He stressed that October 31 was a black day for the entire people of J&K.
“It is not the voice of Congress alone but of those people who suffered due the unconstitutional change of the state and it should be observed as black day”, the JKPCC Chief added.
To a question on the statehood, Karra said, “Congress is firm on its stand and is ready to fight for the complete statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in Assembly and outside on the roads”.
“We want to remind Prime Minister and Home Minister, the promise of restoration of statehood which has been made on the floor of the house, outside and in Jammu and Kashmir should be fullfilled forthwith”, he asserted.
“For what the people of Jammu and Kashmir are being punished”, the Congress leader said and added “which parameter has been left to prove for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir may explain”.
He said as soon as the full statehood without any amendments be restored, it would be happiest day for the Congress and Jammu and Kashmir besides good for the national interest.
When asked that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was not invited in security review meetings by the Lieutenant Governor, Karra said “the way the security review meetings are being held are not conducted with inclusive and holistic approach”.
He said after forming the popular government, the Chief Minister should have been present in any security review meeting and if he is not available any of his nominated members should have represented.
The JKPCC Chief said otherwise the system will start to run on cross roads and that will create security confusion rather than conducting security review meetings.
“Suppose if the Chief Minister tomorrow conducts a security review meeting and that would prove against what the Lieutenant Governor has initiated, that would not be in the interest of the state and the nation”, he remarked.
The Congress urges the Lt Governor, as a constitutional head, that in any of the security review meetings, the working should be with the norms and certain parameters and should be holistic and inclusive by taking all stakeholders together.
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