Srinagar, Aug 23: Senior Congress leader and former Home Minister of India P Chidambaram on Sunday “saluted the unity and courage” of six mainstream “opposition” parties to fight the repeal of Article 370.
In a series of tweets, the former finance minister, he also appealed them to stand resolutely behind their demand by “ignoring the uninformed criticism of self-styled nationalists who do not read history but try to re-write history.”
As many as six political parties including National Conference, Congress and PDP on Saturday reiterated to be bound, wholly, by the contents of the “Gupkar Declaration” which was signed on August 4, 2019 to unitedly fight for J&K’s special status.
“Salute the unity and courage of six mainstream Opposition parties who came together yesterday to fight the repeal of Article 370,” he said in a tweet, adding, “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.”
The congress leader said that the Constitution of India “contains many examples of Special Provisions for states and asymmetric distribution of power.”
“How will the government resolve the Naga issues if it is against making Special Provisions?” he asked.
The joint statement by the political leaders is a significant development in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir. It is for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year that the regional political parties have come under one banner.
According to the statement, the political parties unanimously maintained that the abrogation of Article 370 has “unrecognizably changed the relationship between J&K and New Delhi.”
They reiterated their commitment to collectively fight to restore the special status of J&K as guaranteed under the Constitution and the commitments made from time to time.
