SRINAGAR: Speaking exclusively to The New Indian, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference President and former Minister Sajjad Gani Lone highlighted the lack of accountability for the perpetrators of the 1987 election rigging. Lone emphasized that closure remains out of reach until those responsible for the egregious manipulation of democracy during that period are brought to justice.
In a scathing critique aimed at the National Conference (NC) and Congress, Lone accused Dr. Farooq Abdullah and the Congress government of blatantly tampering with the electoral process to cling to power. He lamented that these actions had been conveniently veiled under the pretext of national interest, calling for those who contributed to the valley’s instability to be held accountable by the law.
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In a stunning revelation, Sajjad Lone, set to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for the North Kashmir parliamentary seat, disclosed a 2015 engagement between the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and the BJP to form a government. He said that the BJP had sought support from him during those deliberations, accusing the National Conference of compromising the integrity and honour of Kashmiris for political gain.
Reflecting on the personal toll of violence, Lone recounted the assassination of his father, Abdul Ghani Lone, by terrorists in 2002. He described the harrowing experience of witnessing his father’s brutal murder, with 40 bullets mercilessly ending his life. Lone revealed that his mother urged him to remain silent, fearing further tragedy for their family.
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When asked about his demands to meet the Prime Minister, Sajjad Lone underscored the necessity for assembly elections and the restoration of statehood. He appealed for equal treatment of Kashmiris alongside their counterparts across India, advocating for unity among all citizens regardless of their domicile.
In the approaching Lok Sabha elections, Sajjad Lone remarked, “In the previous parliamentary election, we faced a deficit of thirty thousand votes. In my father’s era, before 1989, electoral losses amounted to two lakh votes. My initial election resulted in a loss of two lakh votes, then reduced to one lakh, and now stands at thirty thousand votes. This time, we are advancing towards victory, poised to triumph in the imminent elections.”