Srinagar, 31st August: Addressing a press briefing in Srinagar today, JK People's Party Chief Sheeban Ashai announced his candidature for Chanapora Vidhan Sabha segment for upcoming assembly elections 2024. Stressing on need for having an uncompromising pro-Kashmir voice inside Jammu Kashmir legislative assembly; Ashai stated, "It extremely important for Kashmiris to have strong representation more so post unconstitutional, undemocratic abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. Kashmiris have always felt lack of pro-Kashmir sentiment inside the assembly where politicians elected in past have abysmally failed to echo aspirations of common citizens. Ashai expressed that unequivocal, pronounced manifesto of the party which was brought to light in August 2022 is the biggest testament of JK People's Party's politics of virtuousness. We have never had any hidden agendas, our political road map and ideology is transparent and un-ambivalent. He recalled important events of political significance from last ten years of BJP's direct and proxy rule in erstwhile state, termed it as one of the darkest times in history of Kashmir . Ashai ingeminated that people have to reject fiendish moves of BJP government, send a strong message of disapproval for the nefarious politics of Modi Government. Kashmir jas been turned into hub of agencies and an army of New Delhi Sponsored agents has been propped up. He strongly urged people of Kashmir to defeat all such elements abd their masters in upcoming assembly elections. Ashai questioned Farooq Abdullah to come on how he got a clean chit from ED in JK Cricket scam. He asked Abdullah to state reasons for dilution of PAGD, a platform that was created to persevere for restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. Ashai stated that parties like PDP, PC and Apni Party who were alliance partners of BJP and instrumental in blinding children of kashmir have absolutely no locus standi to speak on behalf of Kashmiris. Any wrong decision on our part would not only send a wrong message to entire world but also in a way support BJP's idea and style of functioning. Ashai reminded people to not forget the testing times when entire Kashmir was turned into an open jail, thousands of people detained, state suffered losses of more than two lakh crores, about two and half lakh people lost their jobs thanks to the undemocratic abrogation of Article's 370 and 35A. Ashai expressed that in about of decade of political struggle many a times People's party and it's leadership faced Himalayan challanges from the BJP. I still vividly remember the time when in 2021 minutes away from our Hyderpora residence an encounter took place and families pleaded for dead bodies of the deceased. We first hand experienced haplessness of our people, their agony and pain moved everyone & party's leadership stood firm with the people of Kashmir. Despite all pressures and threats party is proud that we stood up for what was right. Similarly one remembers case of Muslim Muneer from Natipora Srinagar who was killed in police custody and party camped whole night on eve of Eid outside mortuary to seek justice for the family and persevered politically and legally to secure justice for the family. Such experiences change course and have a deep impact on everyone. But party despite all odds always stood up for the tormented and oppressed. We all remember post abrogation of Article 370 party leadership with all might lobbied fervently in favour of restoration of Article's 370. Party leadership meet around twenty regional and national opposition political parties to form consensus in political class for standing up to BJP's assault on Indian Constitution. Ashai impressed upon all opposition leaders across length and breath of India to resist BJP's tinkering with basic structure of constitution. Party leadership not only participated in round tables in New Delhi but also corresponded with top leaders from opposition, something MPs and so called Senior Political leaders from Kashmir should have done, was actively persued by JK People's Party leadership through vigorous dialogue with members of major opposition parties . Ashai recalled woebegone martyrdom of Abdul Rashid Dar of Kunan Poshpora whose died in questionable circumstance, whose dead body was returned to family after intervention of JK People's Party Leadership. Ashai remembered party's resistance to stop bulldozer by BJP regime as a shining example of courage against RSS's diabolical polity. He thanked Almighty for blessings leadership of JKPP with unparalleled courage to stand up to assaults in Kashmir. One remembers how party and it's leadership were even tried to be browbeaten with assassination threats when it stood up for protesting Downtown women who took to streets against high handedness of present regime. On every exacting occasion, party leadership despite all odds showed immense character in the face of adversity. At a round table in New Delhi very resolutely in presence of former RAW Chief A.S.Dulat, Party Supremo Sheeban Ashai reiterated that there would be no compromise on Article 370, 35A or core issue of Kashmir. Party top brass remembers how Ashai stood hand in hand with pro-Kashmir Punjab stalwart Simranjeet Singh Mann and joined his protest in Lakhanpur. On 5th August 2022 commemorating BJP's unconstitutional murder of democracy, Ashai along with Sardar Angad Singh Khalsa posted memorandum for restoration of 370 on BJP office gate in Srinagar. Act of courage sent ripples across political circles of the country driving admiration even from the worst critics. Ashai recalled one of the biggest tests being standing up for hapless Kashmiri pandit community who protested all night at Ompora against innocent civilians killings. Ashai epitomised party's ideology of standing up for minority rights, lambasted BJP's for not providing adequate security to minorities in Kashmir. Our manifesto and our clear stand on all important issues sets us apart for duplicit, nefarious politics of contemporaries. Ashai urged people of erstwhile state to for once examine candidates based on their merit and service towards Kashmiri nation. Our values and principles are something we have never compromised with and we would continue to serve the Kashmiri nation with all the strength & zest". JK Peoples Party leadership also announced that party would support like minded, pro-Kashmir, anti BJP candidates from entire Kashmir province.
