Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Sep 28 : Peoples Conference president and MLA Sajad Lone on Monday said the commitments made in 1947 should remain the reference point for any discussion on Jammu and Kashmir’s political status and its relationship with India, asserting the erstwhile state’s place in the Union was rooted in those promises.
Speaking in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Lone said he had “full respect” for the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court but maintained that J&K’s presence within India was not due to any promise made by the Prime Minister or the apex court.
“I have full respect for the Prime Minister of India and the Supreme Court of India. But if we are here today, it is not because of any promise made by the Prime Minister or the Supreme Court. We are here because of the promises made to the people of J&K in 1947,” Lone said.
He said the original framework envisaged a structure in which the people of Jammu and Kashmir would have a meaningful say in their governance and would enjoy autonomy and powers to take their own decisions.
Questioning the constitutional and legal basis of the Centre’s decision to reorganise Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory, Lone asked, “Tell me, the Union government that relegated us — is this within the limits of law or not?”
Referring to the Supreme Court judgment, he said the Court had not answered all questions surrounding whether a state could be converted into a Union Territory in such circumstances.
Lone said the Assembly should not shift its historical reference point while discussing Jammu and Kashmir.
“The reference point in this Assembly should be 1947, not 2019. We cannot change the reference point. We cannot change the contours of history,” he said.
He also said political phases and governments would change with time, but the historical commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir should continue to be considered.
“This is a phase. How many came and how many went. They will also go one day. You will also go one day. We are also in a phase,” Lone said.
“We should not change the reference point. The reference point has to be 1947,” he added.
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