Sajad Gani Lone Wants People To See ‘Elder Brother’ Remark for PM Modi A Thing of Past; “Equidistant As On Date, Would Prefer Secular Post-poll Alliance”

Aadil Akbar

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Conference incumbent Chairperson Sajad Gani Lone has said that his remark calling PM Narendra Modi should be seen as a thing of the past.

Replying to the queries of media persons on the sidelines of an event at Muqam-i-Shahwali Drugmulla Kupwara, Lone said that, “PM Modi had then in 2014 treated me the way an elder brother does, since then a lot of time has passed.”

Lone in the same breath, made a scathing attack on JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah, saying that, “Wasn’t Omar Abdullah Foreign Minister in BJP government, why is he now against them,” adding, “All the atrocities which were committed here then, he (Omar) was kept for justification.”

“He (Omar) raised question as to why foreign diplomats came here, then it was only he who was sent around to say that there was no problem – these aren’t civilians but militants being killed. He should justify his shift now.”

“Why did he during that time evicted Saif ud Din Soz, when he voted against BJP, or is that the justification and explanation has to be given by we people only,” Lone flanked by several senior party members said.

Lone said that, people should for themselves see what we have done in two-and-a-half years and what those parties have done for last forty years. “If it is that, they have done something more better than us, I would straightaway apologize.”

Replying to a query on restoration of Article 370, Lone said that, he doesn’t sees it happening through this (UT) assembly, but a time will come when there will be a federal solution which might be different but on similar lines, but we are in favour that it should come.”

“To keep the removal alive that it was illegal, it was not done within the ambit of legality,” Lone asserted.

Asked about the possible post-poll alliance of JKPC with any other party, Lone said, “As on date, I am equidistant from everybody and this is my hand on my heart, I would prefer a secular post-poll alliance, but then we’ll also have to talk about human rights violations and see whether secular alliance will have a different Kashmir policy,” Lone said, adding, “As on date I see subtleties might differ, but so-called national interest defines Kashmir policy.”