Rashtra Manch seeks statehood to J&K by year-end

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 11

Rashtra Manch, a political action group founded by former NDA minister Yashwant Sinha, on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce restoration of full statehood to J&K by year end, followed by free and fair polls in his Independence Day speech.

The group also demanded that the delimitation exercise be deferred and held along with other states, besides no steps be taken to alter the demography of the UT.

It urged the Supreme Court to expedite the hearing on the matter of constitutional validity of the repeal of Article 370. The Manch noted that separatism, terrorism and communal politics were common enemies and must be fought unitedly.

The Manch termed the government’s August 5, 2019 action as questionable. “These actions and the utterly undemocratic manner in which they were taken have caused a deep sense of hurt, humiliation and betrayal in the minds of the J&K people,” the group said, accusing the government of not consulting the people and their elected representatives.

“All the leaders of political parties in Kashmir, who have repeatedly pledged their allegiance to India, were detained for a prolonged period as if they are anti-national and a threat to public safety. Even today, people and their representatives are unable to exercise their basic rights of holding meetings or expressing their views freely. We deem this situation to be unacceptable in a free and democratic India,” the group said.