The Newscraving Desk:
Srinagar, Nov 5:
The National Conference on Monday sought restoration of full statehood to J&K and announcement of Assembly election dates at an earliest.
The NC unanimously re-elected Dr. Farooq Abdullah as the party president again in a delegate session held at the Qaid Mazar, Naseem Bagh, Hazratbal, Srinagar. ” Dr. Farooq Abdullah has been re-elected as the Party President in today’s delegate session at Dargah Hazratbal. Party delegates from the three provinces of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh unanimously nominated only one name – Dr Farooq Sb to continue as Party President. His nomination was attested to by the Party Provincial Presidents Nasir Aslam Wani, Rattan Lal Gupta and Haji Qamar Ali Akhoon,” the party said.
On the occasion the party delegates unanimously passed the political, economic resolution. A resolution on freedom of press was also passed.
Political Resolution
Jammu & Kashmir National Conference has and will always
strive to protect the rights and dignity of people of J&K. In spite
of the large scale yearlong incarcerations of party rank and file
following the rescinding of Articles 370 and 35 A, and the
subsequent downgrading of J&K from one of the powerful
states in the country to two Union territories on Aug 05 2019,
party leadership is at the forefront fighting to get back what was
illegally snatched from us.
It is now the third year since Articles 370, 35 A were illegally
and unconstitutionally abrogated amidst promises of improved
economic and security scenario, J&K has only seen worsening
on both these fronts. Economic and security scenario continues
to deteriorate, engulfing more and more people.
While JKNC is fighting a legal battle in the Hon’ble Supreme
Court against the Aug 05 2019 decisions, people of J&K have,
and are being disempowered in the largest democracy of the
World. From June 2018 till date, J&K is reeling under the
second longest spell of Governor’s rule.
Here is an erstwhile state where people are being denied to
have their own government who listens to them, understands
their concerns and acts accordingly. For people there is little to
no access to the LG or his advisors. The basic essence of
representation and accountability has long been rescinded in
this part of the world where bureaucracy rules.
In the All-Party meeting convened in 2021, Prime Minister Mr.
Narendra Modi reiterated his government’s commitment to
restoring J&K’s statehood. Then much to our disagreement and
protests, GoI started the delimitation process which finally
culminated with the release of updated voter lists for the newly
redrawn 90 assembly segments of J&K. It was promised by the
country’s Home Minister that the much awaited assembly
elections will be held after the delimitation process is over. Now
that the process is complete and the final updated voter list is
out, still there is no announcement for Assembly elections.
Considering the political situation in J&K, this delegate session
resolves:
1. Articles 370, 35 A be restored to their original, undiluted
form.
2. Restore full statehood to J&K and announce Assembly
Election dates at an earliest.
3. We urge the people of India to rise to the occasion and
ask the BJP led central government to remove injustices
in J&K.
4. In view of their great historical significance, Public
holidays should be restored on the occasion of Martyr’s
day and Sher e Kashmir’s birth anniversary i.e on 13 th July
and 05 December respectively.
5. NHPC owned Power projects should be returned to J&K
to address the electricity crisis.
6. Prisoners lodged outside J&K should be brought back to
Kashmir & prisoners who are not held for serious charges
be released.
7. JKNC is committed towards the upliftment and
development of every weaker section of the society and
welcome the steps taken for conferment of ST Status in
favour of Paharis of Jammu and Kashmir. As assured, ST
Status already conferred in favour of Gujjars and
Bakarwals shall not be diluted is also a welcome step and
it will bring harmony and brotherhood between the two
communities.
Economic Resolution
The economy of the country is in a bad shape, so is the case with Jammu and Kashmir. This session
of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, therefore, expresses its dissatisfaction on the overall
economic scenario in J&K. This important meeting demands that the Government should take
urgent measures to improve these conditions, which have left the people gasping for succour and
relief. As if the disturbed conditions of law and order and political turmoil and uncertainty were not
enough, people have been left to grapple with a host of problems and also to encounter an
unresponsive and unsympathetic administration. The flood of unemployment is raging unabated and
lakhs of young girls and boys are knocking at the doors of the Government for employment. It is a
matter of concern that the ranks of these luckless youngsters are becoming larger by the day and
the people at the helm are witnessing this phenomenon with a stone hearted detachment and
apathy. This session of JKNC is of the opinion that this state of affairs is not only depriving the
society of the rich talent of this human resource but is also putting their poor parents to hardships,
both financial and emotional.
This session feels that the continued non engagement of this tremendous work force can have
sinister consequences. It can disturb the balance of our society and create a volatile situation. JKNC
demands that this most urgent issue should receive the attention of the authorities at the highest
level and they must come up with an expeditious plan to solve this problem. Another major issue
confronting the people is the unprecedented price rise. The skyrocketing prices have broken the
back of the common man. It is becoming difficult for him with each passing day to make both ends
meet. Bringing food grains and other cereals in the GST net recently has added fuel to the fire.
Needless to mention, these items were out of the tax net till this recent decision of the Government.
According to the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) monthly report of October 2022, along with
an uncertain macroeconomic outlook, the year 2022 also brought to the fore the vulnerability and
inter connectedness of the global food system to shocks. Russia and Ukraine being key suppliers of
agricultural commodities, their conflict has choked the supply and fuelled food inflation, impacting
overall food security. Heat waves and adverse climatic events in several countries have further
impacted food production and restricted their supply to the world market. India’s grain availability
was impacted by the untimely heat waves and deficiency of the southwest monsoon in the current
year. There is one cause of concern as food inflation has contributed significantly to overall CPI
inflation. During the first five months of 2022, food inflation was imported from elevating global
prices of oils and fats. Since June 2022, however, domestic seasonal factors have been the major
source of food inflation, mostly seen in the elevated prices of vegetables, cereals and their
products.
The fruit industry in Jammu and Kashmir, which is the main source of income in the rural populace,
is in doldrums. During the current year it faced a serious crisis as never before. Markets for the
produce fell drastically causing huge losses to the growers. Mismanagement of transport required
for the purpose was another cause of loss to the growers. Thousands of tons of fresh fruit were
abandoned in the orchards because the cost involved in the process of harvesting and
transportation would exceed the amount the growers would fetch on its sale. Instead of
encouraging and helping the local growers, apple was imported from Iran and Turkey, further
crushing the already distressed industry. It would be in the fitness of things to review the import
policy in this regard. This session demands of the Government to assess the losses incurred by the
distressed fruit growers and pay suitable compensation to them.
The Union territory is without an elected government for the last more than four years. As such the
people have no forum to take their grievances to. In these circumstances the claim of the Central
Government that they strengthened democracy in the Union territory is absurd. The Panchayati Raj
institutions, which they frequently make mention of, have failed to deliver. The DDC members
elected by popular vote have been confined to hired hotel rooms. They are seldom permitted to visit
their constituencies due to so called security reasons.
This session of JKNC expresses its concern that inspite of a much inflated budget, the people of
Jammu and Kashmir have to face financial crunch in their day to day life. They have to face
difficulties in the fields of power supply, health care, insufficient teaching staff in educational
institutions, damaged roads and by and large, poor infrastructure in every public service. A section
of the bureaucracy, at the upper and lower levels, is not at all responsive to the needs of the
common man and is indulging in its arrogant ways. This financial and departmental mismanagement
is taking its toll. Many bills and claims are not getting cleared from the State treasuries and
bureaucrats are callous to the legitimate needs and requests of the public. This session of JKNC
draws the attention of the Government to the plight of the common man and demands that it must
activate its machinery for the people’s welfare; and remove the bottlenecks which are coming in the
ways of people getting their due from the huge investments of the Government. The session
demands that the negligent officers/officials must be kept under constant scrutiny and should not be
allowed to relapse into lethargy and neglect in their services to the common people. The session
also expresses its deep anguish at the growing menace of corruption and corrupt practices at the
various levels of administration. We demand that these culprits be given exemplary punishment and
measures taken to stem the rot.
In conclusion, this session of JKNC stresses upon the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to urgently
attend the aforementioned and other grey areas of the economy, to ensure that the people of
Jammu and Kashmir lead a happy, prosperous and stress free life.
Press resolution
The role of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference for the freedom of the
press platform and free journalism in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be ignored in any
way. It was due to the unrelenting efforts and sacrifices of Sher-e-Kashmir that the
press platform was founded and safeguarded in Jammu and Kashmir.
In order to ensure the freedom of the press, the Lion of Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad
Abdullah, suffered countless and unforgettable problems and difficulties. He also had
to face incarcerations along with his companions.
In 1996 the National Conference government led by Dr. Farooq Abdullah breathed
new life into the freedom of the press platform by providing a free environment to the
journalists and the flourishing of a truly free press. With the passage of time, the
field of journalism in Jammu and Kashmir has developed so much that a large
number of young people here have started choosing journalism as their career.
Journalists here have been associated with domestic and foreign institutions and
have gained international fame and brought home hard-won laurels.
But the way the journalism sector of Jammu and Kashmir has deteriorated over the
past years is very regretful. In the current era, the free press has been totally
suppressed. Journalists are being targeted from different quarters. Not only this, but
since the past years, the journalism sector here is suffering from a severe economic
crisis, due to which the quality and values of journalism have declined.
The J&K National Conference today through this resolution in this delegate session
demands that the press in Jammu and Kashmir should be provided with a free
environment and should not be subjected to any undue interference in
