Release Political Leaders In Jammu and Kashmir, Says Karan Singh

New Delhi: Senior Congress Leader and last Yuvraj (prince) of Jammu and Kashmir Karan Singh on Thursday demanded the release of political leaders arrested in the state and a fresh political and civil society dialogue in view of the “drastically” changed situation. Singh also said in a statement that efforts should be that Jammu and Kashmir attains “full Statehood” as soon as possible so that its people can at least enjoy the political rights available in the rest of the country. But he welcomed the Centre’s decision to reorganize the region and create Ladakh as a Union Territory and said the reorganization of the region had positives too.

“With my lifelong involvement with Jammu and Kashmir, a state founded by my ancestors and for which my father Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession in 1947, my sole concern is to further the welfare of all sections and regions of the state,” Karan Singh said in a statement. In an obvious reference to the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he did not name, Singh criticized the Centre’s move to sideline “two regional parties” before deciding to axe Article 370 of the Constitution giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir. “It is unfair to dismiss the two main regional parties as being anti-national.” The workers of these two parties, he said, had over the years made heavy sacrifices for the cause of India. Besides, both the parties had been from time to time allies of national parties and governments at the Centre and in the state. “I would, therefore, urge that leaders of legitimate political parties in Kashmir should be released as soon as possible and a broad based political dialogue initiated with them and with civil society in view of the drastically changed situation. “At all costs communal harmony should be maintained and violence eschewed.” (IANS)

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