The Opposition National Conference (NC) on Sunday re-elected former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah as president of the party. The decision to request Abdullah to continue as party president was taken by the party Working Committee on Saturday.
At an impressive rally at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium here, first time in several years, Abdullah’s name was proposed by party’s provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani and seconded by his Jammu counterpart Devinder Rana.
The party later adopted a resolution and vowed to continue its fight for restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
“We continue to strive for the restoration of autonomy and restoration of Article 370 to its original, pristine form, while condemning those divisive voices who are opposed to the sovereign constitutional guarantees extended to the people of the state,” reads the resolution.
The resolution further read that the National Conference has always worked within the constitutional parameters that enshrine the state’s special status.
The party said the Kashmir issue should be solved through a sustained dialogue with both internal and external stakeholders, an apparent reference to separatists and Pakistan.
“The recently announced initiative through a representative of the Government of India should have clarity and seriousness of purpose to ensure the sanctity of the institution of dialogue is restored and upheld,” the party resolution said.
The party, while calling for a political initiative, urged both India and Pakistan to initiate a sustained, sustainable and comprehensive dialogue process to resolve all outstanding issues.”
“It is for this purpose that our party wishes to see the Shimla Agreement and the lahore Declaration to be rejuvenated to usher the entire subcontinent, especially Jammu and Kashmir, into an era of peace and stability,” it reads.
The resolution stated that Jammu and Kashmir is the “worst victim of animosity” between India and Pakistan and if the two countries work for mutual cooperation and peace, people of J&K would be the major benefit from it.