Srinagar, Feb 3: Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday delivered a forthright intervention on the floor of the House, expressing concern over the selective rejection of amendments moved to the Lieutenant Governor’s Address and urging the Assembly to uphold substance over spectacle.
Interacting with the media, as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, Lone said his party had proposed six amendments seeking inclusion in the Address, of which two were rejected. One pertained to a clear articulation of continued efforts towards Article 370, Article 35-A and restoration of Statehood, while the other sought revival of intra-district and intra-divisional recruitment to address employment challenges faced by local youth seeking rationalisation of reservation.
He noted that four amendments were accepted, including those concerning daily wagers, the status and location of the National Law University (NLU) as assured by the Chief Minister, and a strong, explicit condemnation of attacks on Kashmiris, along with clarity on the State Government’s engagement with other states on the issue.
Terming public protests by the National Conference as “theatrics,” Lone asserted that the Assembly floor not demonstrations outside constitutes the enduring record of accountability.
“History will read what was said and decided inside the House,” he remarked, adding that the real test of conviction lies in voting on the amendments. If passed, he explained, the matter would return to the LG’s office for redrafting, reinforcing the constitutional pathway rather than street posturing.
On the controversy surrounding the NLU, MLA Handwara clarified that despite its nomenclature, it is a State University, approved by the cabinet in 2018. He stressed the sanctity of the Chief Minister’s assurance on its location, noting that the project involves a modest outlay and should not be politicised. He cautioned against undermining educational institutions through uninformed rhetoric.
Addressing the absence of daily wagers in the original Address, Lone said this omission was precisely why amendments were moved. “Let the House vote,” he said, “and then it will be clear who truly stands with them.”
Concluding, Lone expressed hope that the law would be interpreted with the flexibility it allows, enabling reasoned decisions in the larger public interest and reaffirmed his call for principled, inside-the-House engagement over performative politics. (KNC)
