Kargil parties announce to mark Aug 5 as ‘black day’

By: Tasaduq Hussain

Kargil: A year after the abrogation of article 370 and 35-A the Kargil unit of National Conference and Indian National Congress Tuesday termed the last year’s August 5 decision as the “darkest day in history” of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh and announced to mark the day as a “black day.”

An All Party meet was formally called in Kargil today jointly by the National Conference and Congress on the occasion of first anniversary of Article 370 roll back. BJP, however, stayed away from the meet.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in a joint press conference, by the leaders of NC and Congress, it was announced that the day will be observed as a “black day.”

NC leader Qamar Ali Akhoon, who has also served as Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution ministers in the erstwhile state, while reading out the joint statement of NC and Congress said an unfortunate situation has risen in J&K and Ladakh, after the central government’s decision on August 05 last year.

“We condemn the division of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh into two separate union territories and demand complete restoration of statehood,” he said. “The loss of social and political rights of the people of Ladakh including its cultural identity is highly commendable. Both parties are fully committed to fight for the restoration of social, political and cultural rights of the people of Ladakh.”

The two parties have also decided to formulate a future course of action appealing the general public, religious leaders and social institutions of the Kargil to wholeheartedly extend their support to the coming action plan in the interest of region. —(KNO)