Denouncing the decisions taken on August 5, 2019, senior PDP leader and former Minister of J&K Nayeem Akhtar termed August 5 “black day” for mainstream politics also besides common masses.
In a conversation with national print media, PDP leader said that the decisions taken on August 5, 2019 were not only a setback for new generation but also a jolt for mainstream people as well. “August 5 is a black day for not only new generations of J&K but for those also who believe in mainstream”, Akhtar said
PDP leader said that Article-370 is basic and can’t be ignored. “We can’t ignore an elephant in the room, Article-370 is basic and we cannot forget it”, he said.
He said majority of J&K population who didn’t endorse accession to India will mock us onwards for pro-India stance. “I was the spokesman of state government combined of PDP and BJP which was formed with a hope to find an amicable solution to Kashmir problem. But what BJP did, it has made us lampoon before those who were opposing accession to India”, PDP leader said.
“Prior to formation of Government, an agreement was signed by PM Modi which mentioned that special status of Jammu and Kashmir will not be tinkered with, talks with Pakistan and Hurriyat will be revived for everlasting peace in the region”, Akhtar asserted. He added Article 370 was a covenant of Union with a small state of J&K.
Terming PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti a “symbol of democratic resistance”, Akhtar said she stood like a rock against the lethal policies of BJP.
“Mehbooba Ji stood like a rock at several occasion be it Kathua rape and murder case of a minor girl or eviction of Gujjar community in Jammu region, BJP wanted to fire bullets from her shoulders which couldn’t happen” Akhtar said.
Notably Akhtar along with hundreds of mainstream leaders and activists were taken into “preventive custody” by J&K authorities’ hours before New Delhi abrogated Article 370 and 35(A) on August 5, 2019. However he was released in mid of June this year and is continuously to be under “house arrest”