A meeting of the National Conference, attended by hundreds of delegates, on Sunday passed a resolution “to fight for restoration of autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir”, and asked India and Pakistan “to resume dialogue.”
“We continue to strive for the restoration of autonomy, and restoration of Article 370 to its original, pristine form. We condemn those divisive voices who are opposed to the sovereign constitutional guarantees,” read the resolution passed by the delegates, who gathered at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subh here in a show of strength.
The meeting resolved to “work within the constitutional parameters that enshrine the State’s special status.” It called for a sustained dialogue with both internal and external stakeholders to address the Kashmir problem.
“The recently announced initiative through a representative of the Government of India should have clarity and seriousness of purpose to ensure the sanctity of the institution of dialogue is restored and upheld," it said.
It urged both India and Pakistan “to initiate a sustained, sustainable and comprehensive dialogue process to resolve all outstanding issues.”
“It is for this purpose that our party wishes to see the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration to be rejuvenated to usher the entire subcontinent, especially J&K, into an era of peace and stability," it added.
Meanwhile, the NC retains three-time chief minister Farooq Abdullah as its president and Omar Abdullah as working president.
Separatists threaten agitation over Article 35(A)
Meanwhile, separatist leaders -- Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik on Sunday threatened “a mass agitation if the Supreme Court delivers verdict against the interests and aspiration of people of state”.
“Any move to tinker with state subject law will create Palestine-like situation. Tempering with Article 35(A), which gives special rights and privileges to the natives of J&K, is a conspiracy to change the demography of the Muslim-majority state,” said a joint statement of the separatists.
It said people will safeguard the integrity and special status at any cost. “People from all corners of the state will come on roads and resist such move,” it added.
The Supreme Court is hearing several petitions filed against Article 35-A on Monday morning in New Delhi.
A team, led by state law minister Abdul Haq Khan is in Delhi to persuade the petitioners to withdraw their petitions and take pleas for dismissal of the petitions against Article 35-A during the course of hearing in the Supreme Court.
