(Asian News Hub) – Political parties in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday reacted sharply to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s promise that statehood in Jammu and Kashmir will be restored once the “situation becomes normal”, saying his comment was an admission that the situation was not normal now, UNI reported.
Peoples Democratic Party leader and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said it was an “admission” by the Indian government that the situation “still isn’t normal”.
“After quite literally terrorising the people of J&K into silence to create a false normalcy narrative, the GOI’s admission that the situation still isn’t normal is self contradictory. Also, it proves that silence shouldn’t be misconstrued as normalcy,” she tweeted.
Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone said “every single stateless day is an affront to federalism and to the people of J & K.
“But who will define normalcy. And in a federal structure — can we really use normalcy as an excuse to assume power? Every single stateless day is an affront to federalism and to the people of J&K,” Lone said.
“And to the people of India who are mute bystanders. Inshallah, you too will one day taste statelessness and helplessness. Non-popular governments mean a humiliating existence for the inhabitants of that particular place. We don’t wish it for even our worst enemies,” he said.
Earlier, Shah said: “Elections will be held soon. Whatever people say, I have assured on the floor of Parliament, as soon as the situation is normal J&K will get its statehood back.”