Yashwant Sinha vows restoration of peace, democracy in J&K if elected

JJ CORRESPONDENT

Srinagar, July 9: Opposition’s candidate for the upcoming presidential elections, Yashwant Sinha on Saturday said one of his priorities if elected would be to urge the Centre to take necessary steps to resolve the Kashmir issue permanently and restore peace, justice, normalcy, democracy and end the hostility towards J&K.
He said it is “deeply regrettable” that the Supreme Court has not even begun hearings on petitions pertaining to abrogation of J&K’s special status even nearly three years after the Centre revoked it.
Sinha was in Srinagar on a day-long visit to garner support for his candidature as President.
Flanked by former J&K chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, Sinha said during a press conference that people here have suffered a lot and their desire for peace must be fulfilled.
He also demanded that free and fair assembly elections be held at an earliest.
“If elected as president, one of his priorities will be to urge the government to take necessary steps to resolve the Kashmir issue permanently and restore peace, justice, normalcy, democracy and end the hostility towards J&K,” he said.
“I am opposed to the forcible and manipulative changes in J&K, the central government has failed to fulfill its promise to create an atmosphere for safe return of Kashmiri Pandits. The promise must be fulfilled. J&K people have suffered a lot and their desire for peace must be fulfilled,” Sinha said.
Sinha said that for the second time, the people in J&K would not be able to participate in the presidential polls.
“My campaign would have been incomplete in case I could not have visited Kashmir. I get disappointed when I see the situation here, which is contrary to the government claims,” he added.
“It is very regrettable that the Supreme Court has not even heard the case related to Article 370 nearly 3 years after the constitution was repealed,” he said, “long pendency of constitutional cases erodes the credibility of the apex court.”
He said there are no bigger patriots than Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.
“If these are not patriotic people, none of us have a right to claim any patriotism towards our country,” he said.
Sinha also urged NDA Presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu to make “same promises” and “affirmation” as he has made.
“People of Jammu and Kashmir also expect this assurance from her,” he said. UNI