‘Silence of opposition on Article 370 like endorsing revocation of J-K’s special status’

Srinagar, Aug 21 (PTI):
People’s Conference on Saturday said the silence of opposition parties on Article 370 — abrogated by the Centre — is tantamount to an endorsement of the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir special status.
The party’s statement came a day after a virtual meeting of the leaders of 19 opposition parties demanded the release of all political prisoners in Jammu and Kashmir, restoration of its full statehood including J-K cadre of central services and the conduct of free and fair assembly elections at the earliest. The meeting of 19 opposition parties by selectively parroting the demand for statehood and criminal silence on Articles 370 and 35A has endorsed the revocation of the special status of J-K, J-K People’s Conference (JKPC) spokesperson Adnan Ashraf Mir said.
“In a statement issued after the meeting, there was no mention of repealing the decisions taken by the BJP government on August 5th 2019, he added. Mir said the opposition has buried the demand of the people of J-K of bringing back Articles 370 and 35A and the domicile rights of the erstwhile state.
Two senior leaders (NC president) Farooq Abdullah and (PDP president) Mehbooba Mufti attended the meeting. They failed to convince the opposition parties to put restoration of Articles 370, 35A and domicile rights on their agenda. Why did these senior leaders attend the meeting when they could not persuade the opposition parties about the demands put forward in the Gupkar Declaration? he asked. The Centre had abrogated the J-K’s special status under Article 370 on August 5, 2019.