Voices within the National Conference (NC) have come out to oppose any move by the party to settle for the restoration of statehood as its main demand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NC\u2019s priority should be to restore the special status of J&K, which has been the principle stand of the party. After August 5 last year, the NC should not think and settle on anything less than that,\u201d senior NC leader and influential Shia cleric Agha Syed Ruhullah told The Hindu<\/em>.<\/p>\n Mr. Ruhullah said he had resigned as NC spokesman. \u201cI have sent across my resignation from the post of chief spokesperson of the party,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n These remarks assumed significance after party vice-president Omar Abdullah, in a write up, hinted at contesting the elections once statehood was restored from the current Union Territory status.<\/p>\n \u201cI would not say the party has settled for restoration of statehood. I am waiting for the working committee to meet and make a decision on it,\u201d Mr. Ruhullah said.<\/p>\n He asked the NC to call for the meeting of the signatories of the Gupkar Declaration, a joint statement issued by the NC, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Peoples Conference and the J&K Peoples Movement on August 4 last year \u201cto fight for rights and special status of J&K together\u201d.<\/p>\n The BJP has described Mr. Omar\u2019s remarks as \u201chis acceptance of the abrogation of Article 370\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Farooq Abdullah [NC president) has also accepted it and we thank him for this. Let the militancy be wiped out first and the situation is brought under control, statehood to J&K will be restored,\u201d BJP\u2019s general secretary Ashok Koul told reporters on Monday.<\/p>\n Commenting on the BJP\u2019s statement, Mr. Ruhullah said, \u201cThe celebration of the BJP should serve as a reminder for what our party should espouse.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\nGupkar Declaration<\/h2>\n
We thank Farooq: BJP<\/h2>\n