Nationalist People’s Front General Secretary comments on the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir polls

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 30 (ANI): Mohd Iqbal Mir, General Secretary of Nationalist People Front (NPF) commented on the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly elections and the electoral agendas being mentioned by different parties for the upcoming elections.

“Our party’s manifesto for the elections focuses on being the voice of the youth. We believe that the chief victim in the country for the past 30 years has been the youth of the country. There have been slogans, posters, campaigns on the youth of the country but when the older people get elected as ministers, the young people don’t get their representation”, said NPF’s general secretary.

Commenting on the abrogation of Article 370 and giving greater autonomy to the state he said that almost no party talks about greater autonomy in their manifestos.

“Looking at the National Conference and Congress alliance, Congress themselves believe Article 370 should be removed, the party themselves believe that there should be a state for Jammu and Kashmir. Congress themselves did not give any space for Article 370 in their manifesto. The desperate alliance which has happened between the two parties, they don’t even mention Article 370”, he said to ANI.

“Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has said it (Article 370) cannot be back even after 100 years. I understand this sentiment, because unless and until we have a majority and a lot of support from various parties, the article cannot come back”, he added further. He said that only the Communist Party has shown support for reinstating Article 370. “We only have 5 seats from Jammu and Kashmir in the Parliament, so the five seats can demand it, speak about it, but to restore it is not in our power”, he said.

Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with the counting of votes taking place on October 4.

Voting will be held for 90 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.