‘Will back party with secular approach after elections’

THE The National Conference aims to become an advocate of dialogue and also work towards initiating wide-ranging talks as a means to restore the peace narrative in Kashmir. Ali Mohammad Sagar, general secretary of J&K’s oldest party, says his party stands for a secular India and will only shake hands with those adopting a secular approach. In an interview with The Tribune reporter Azhar Qadri, Sagar talks about the grim situation in Kashmir ahead of the poll and the prospect of peace. Excerpts:  

What will be your party’s campaign agenda? 

A committee will sit under the leadership of Farooq and Omar Abdullah to draft the agenda. Then, we will put it before the people. We always have a people-friendly agenda. The main points will be that there should be peace, human rights should be respected, there should development here, power resources should be handed over to us, GST will be reviewed and modified, and regional autonomy should be considered.  

What has changed between 2014, when you lost all parliamentary seats, and now? 

Since then, we have promoted connection with the public...we have promoted public contact in all districts. People, their problems and concerns have become our main focus, especially of the young generation which constitutes 35 per cent of the population.  

The situation in south Kashmir is serious, how difficult will it be to campaign there?  

It will be very difficult. The situation in the south is grim. Night raids are still going on, cordon and search operations take place and Operation All Out is in place. Atrocities are there...so the atmosphere is polluted to a great extent. It will be very difficult to run a proper election campaign there compared to the places where things are normal.  

What will be your model for south Kashmir, if you win? 

Our party will try its best to restore peace in south Kashmir and for that purpose, a dialogue is a must. Talks with all shades of people and between India and Pakistan are necessary to ease the position on the border and on the ground. That would reduce tension to a great extent. We hope that dialogue between Delhi and Kashmir leadership will ease the situation as it had done during Vajpayee’s rule. We will try our best that youth are taken on board and talks are started with the youth, particularly those who are alienated...who have expressed resentment. There are some hard realities which are to be understood by the leadership. If done, it will ease the situation. 

Once the election results are out, will you side with the BJP or with Congress?

We are against the BJP categorically. It polarised and communalised the situation in the country. It is a big setback to the secular fabric of the country. We are for a secular India. Whosoever adopts a secular approach, we will support it.