Srinagar: The People’s Conference Chairman, Sajad Gani Lone on Saturday said that Government of India’s decision to proscribe Mohammad Yasin Malik led JKLF will not achieve anything and Delhi is only shrinking space for dissent in JK.
Lone while addressing a gathering to welcome Mian Javaid, a prominent political leader and uncle of NC’s stalwart Mian Altaf into the party fold said that “Mian sahab, with his experience and support, will further strengthen the party and our mission for change.”
Commenting on GoI’s decision to ban JKLF, Sajad asserted that JKLF has already renounced violence and termed New Delhi’s policy to ban JKLF and arresting its leaders ‘an exercise in futility and tantamount to suicide.’
“Delhi’s highhanded approach is shrinking space for peaceful dissent. Such tactics have been tried and tested in the past but nothing has been achieved out of it. JKLF has renounced violence in the 90’s and there is no need to ban them”, he added.
From underground to overground. Was part of those arrested in a raid in Barzalla to arrest Yasin Malik in 1990. JKLF renounced violence in 90s. It was tantamount to suicide. At great risk Yasin Malik took that decision. And now stands banned. Shrinking space for peaceful dissent.
— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) March 22, 2019
Reiterating his demand to revoke ban against Jamaat-e-Islami, PC chairman said that the spirit of democracy lies in resolving differences through dialogue and negotiations asserting that New Delhi must understand that muscular approach will further complicate things rather than solving them.
“Despite being banned and its prominent leaders arrested in the past, JeI has managed to construct hundreds of schools and educate thousands of children. Comparably, the two traditional parties, even after ruling for seven decades, haven’t been able to construct quality schools”, he added.
While launching a scathing attack on PDP and NC, he said they rigged elections and despoiled the state. “They create hurdles for people who want to open private schools”, he said while comparing JeI’s social work with that of the performance of dynastic parties.
