NC appeals for maintaining Jammu and Kashmir's statehood

National Conference on Wednesday me a last-minute appeal to Centre to shelve plan of bifurcating Jammu and Kashmir into union territories and urged it to maintain statehood of 200-year-old state.

Two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Lakh -- will come into existence on Thursday.

NC also requested political parties, intellectuals, acemicians, civil society, trers and transporters to come toger and join hands with party to make a joint request to President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Parliament to retain Jammu and Kashmir as a state.

"As we are coming closer to becoming a UT, psychologically feeling of inferiority has started gripping us. We are here to make an appeal as voices were raised from every corner that we should t make it an issue of prestige and inste work toger to ensure that 200-year-old state founded by Maharaja Gulab Singh is kept as a state," NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana told reporters in Jammu.

"Jammu and Kashmir is crown of India and we are and will remain part of India. We are Indian and will always remain Indian. Jammu and Kashmir Constitution also makes it clear that state is and shall remain an integral part of India and we have doubts about it," he said.

He said re is a feeling among people in Jammu region that y are being marginalised.

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" voice of Jammu need to be heard. region has played a crucial role, especially after 1990s when Kashmir faced a difficult situation (in wake of eruption of militancy). Jammu has always aspired for statehood, though it is a different matter wher we politically agree or disagree with demand. It should have been houred for maintaining brorhood and keeping tricolour flying high," NC leer said.

"I request my colleagues in BJP, Congress, Panrs Party, CPI(M), BSP and or parties that let us come toger, leaving aside our differences, and make a joint request for restoration of statehood. intellectuals, acemics, civil society, trers and transporters should also come forward and lend ir support wholeheartedly," he said.

He said National Conference was promise bound to ensure equitable development of Jammu, Kashmir and Lakh regions.

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In response to a question about reported remarks of National Conference MP Hasnain Masoodi that relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and country ended with abrogation of provisions of Article 370, Rana said if Masoodi h me any comment he must have me it in his personal capacity and t on behalf of party.

" decision about what is to be done after abrogation of (provisions of) Article 370 cant be taken by any individual in our party. Once leership comes out of detention, working committee will sit down and decide party's future course of action," he said.

Rana also demanded immediate restoration of mobile internet services in Jammu region to facilitate students and trers, and called for withdrawal of toll tax to facilitate smooth movement of pilgrims visiting Vaish Devi shrine to boost tourism in region.

On visit of a delegation of European Union parliamentarians to Kashmir, he said, "We do t kw wher ir visit is going to do any good to anybody, least people of Jammu and Kashmir.

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