Will raise statehood restoration demand in Parliament: MP Mian Altaf

Srinagar, Jul 22: National Conference Member of Parliament (MP), Mian Altaf Ahmad on Tuesday reiterated the demand of his party for restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir and said that they will raise the issue in the Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon session.

Mian Altaf said that besides raising the issue, his party will support all those voices including the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who seeks the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. “We are definitely supporting it. Our party president, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has already welcomed Rahul Gandhi’s letter urging the Prime Minister to restore J&K’s statehood. We will raise this issue in Parliament without fail,” Mian Altaf said.

Mian Altaf alleged that the BJP appears to be treating the issue of statehood restoration lightly. “The BJP keeps repeating that statehood will be restored at an “appropriate time”, but that is neither the right perspective nor a satisfactory answer. It reflects a lack of seriousness,” Mian Altaf Ahmad who represents Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency said.

Mian Altaf said, “In the past sessions whether in or outside the Parliament, we have demanded that the statehood should be restored to Jammu and Kashmir as promised by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi time and again on several occasions.”