Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Thursday welcomed All Party Meeting in New Delhi and appreciated Kashmiri leaders for raising issues of the masses.
"I welcome the initiative taken by the centre in the form of an All-Party meeting. I am proud of all Kashmiri leaders for the way they described their pain during the matter," Lone said while addressing a press conference at Srinagar.
“I would give equal marks to all those who participated and spoke in the meeting,” he said.
He was accompanied by Imran Raza Ansari, Basharat Bukhari, Abid Ansari, Peerzada Mansoor and Muhammad Abbas.
Lone said that it is quite obvious that those who will go to New Delhi to represent people can never disrespect the sentiments of people.
Speaking about the meeting, he said, "so far there are no winners or losers. It is a continuous process. We have to make sure that New Delhi delivers and for that, we have to make an enabling environment."
"India is a land of elections. There is an election after every six or eight months. Let us not resort to rhetoric and create an environment where delivery becomes difficult. Because If delivery becomes difficult or delayed, there is only one loser and that is the people of J&K,” he added.
Also read: Why are there concerns in the Valley over the Delimitation Commission?
On the issue of statehood, he said, "Statehood should be restored now. Not as a matter of charity, but as a matter of right, it should be restored now. But at the same time, I won't link elections with statehood."
"Unlike other party leaders, I won't say that I won't take part in elections. All leaders in our party are on the same pedestal and if they can contest, I will too. Also, boycotting polls could lead us to trap," he said, adding, "We must understand boycotting elections have yielded no results so far. It's time that we at the other side too. Boycotting elections can give walkovers to the opponents."
He asserted that they will participate in the delimitation exercise if it is invited.
"We will participate but the process has to be fair within the regions and across the regions."
