Congress general secretary and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad met National Conference chief and MP Farooq Abdullah, who was released from detention after six months, in Srinagar on Saturday. After the meeting, Azad said restoration of democracy is the first and foremost thing for starting any political process in Jammu and Kashmir and called for restoration of statehood for the region.
He said J&K was one of the biggest states in India. “In 1947, 560 states were clubbed to form 12 states, but J&K was the only state that didn’t need other states to merge with it,” he said.
Azad said J&K was a state even during the Mughal era and also during the rein of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
“Making such a big state a Union territory is an insult to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,’’ he said. “I wish the leaders are released quickly and J&K is made a state again.”
“Political process is a prerequisite of a democracy,’’ Azad told reporters with Farooq by his side at the latter’s residence on Gupkar Road.
He said India is known across the world not for its size but for its democracy.
“But not that democracy where three former chief ministers are detained for more than seven months, and a fourth chief minister can visit the place after seeking permission from the Supreme Court,” he said.
Azad said if former chief ministers, ministers, MLAs and MLCs are in jail, then it is not a democracy.
Asked about the revocation of Article 370, he said, “Let’s go by one and one. Let’s first restore democracy, and democracy can be restored only after all leaders behind bars or guest houses are released.”
About the formation of new political party, the Apni Party, by former PDP leader Altaf Bukhari, he said such parties have made many attempts in the last 45 years.
“Only an elected government can run J&K. Agency parties can’t run J&K or democracy,” he said.
Expressing happiness over the release of Farooq, Azad said: “We don't know the reason why he was detained.”
“Generally, those who have violated the law or done something against the country and the government are kept under detention. But these leaders were detained even before the abrogation of Article 370,” he said.
Azad said he was friends with the NC leader for 40 years and has come to meet him on behalf of the MPs of other parties who raised their voice both inside and outside the Parliament for the release of leaders and common people.
He said the MPs had argued in the Parliament that if J&K has to march on the path of development, people and leaders have to be released.
“Political process has to start. Only with political process, elections are done and government is chosen by the people,’’ he said.
He said for the last three years no work is happening in Jammu and Kashmir. “The unemployment rate is high; tourism, handicrafts and fruit industries have suffered,’’ Azad said.
“In Jammu, transport section is affected. The small scale industry of J&K are suffering. The only solution is to release all political leaders immediately, and start a political process,” he further said.
