None talking of plebiscite, restore J&K statehood: Abhishek Singhvi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 26

Alongside the National Conference, the Congress on Saturday said J&K statehood should be restored before elections are held and the ball on the issue was in the government’s court. Reacting to NC chief Farooq Abdullah’s plebiscite remarks, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said no one was talking of a plebiscite but it was for the government to offer confidence by doing something concrete on the ground.

“It is undeniable and there is unanimity in a large section of the non-BJP political spectrum, regarding J&K that statehood is an imperative, urgent necessity and absolutely essential. Also all kinds of confidence-building measures will go along with such statehood. This has already been articulated by Ghulam Nabi Azad, when he spoke for us,” said Singhvi referring to the party’s demand at the PM’s meet for full statehood before polls as against the government formulation of delimitation, elections and then statehood.

Singhvi said all parties tried to find a middle converging ground at the PM’s meeting. “The government should appreciate that there was a large degree of attempt to converge. What Farooq Abdullah is saying is a historical point. Nobody is talking of it,” Singhvi added.

Work on positive outcome: GA Mir

• The Centre must follow up on the positive outcome of the recent all-party meeting in Delhi for early restoration of democracy in J&K, Congress leader GA Mir has said.
• Mir said the parties responded to the call of the PM. “Now, it is for the PM to respond to the gesture,” he added. pti