Sajad Lone Criticizes National Conference, Questions Accountability for J&K Bloodshed

Jammu: The Jammu & Kashmir Assembly witnessed high drama on Wednesday as Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone launched a scathing attack on successive governments, particularly the National Conference (NC), questioning their accountability for decades of bloodshed in the region.

Lone posed a pointed question: “Who answers for the countless deaths in Jammu & Kashmir?” He argued that while many lives had been lost, the real culprits remained obscured by political rhetoric.

Lone Accuses NC of Impunity, Highlights Violent Periods Under Their Rule

Targeting NC MLA Shamima Firdous, Lone reminded the House that during NC’s rule between 1996–2002 and 2008–2014, large-scale violence unfolded. He questioned whether being in power meant impunity, reducing the victims to mere statistics.

In a striking reference, Lone pointed out the case of incarcerated separatist leader Shabir Shah, who has spent over 45 years in jail, noting that 30 of those years were under NC governments.

Lone suggested that while mainstream parties and separatists appeared to be on opposite sides, they were often controlled by the same political machinery.

BJP Stages Walkout After Speaker Expunges Remarks on July 13 Martyrs

Meanwhile, the Assembly saw further disruption when all 28 BJP members staged a walkout after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather expunged "derogatory remarks" made by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma regarding the July 13, 1931 martyrs.

Also Read: Sajad Lone Criticizes NC-Led Government for Ideological Overlap with BJP

Sharma’s remarks were in response to PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, who demanded the restoration of public holidays on July 13 and December 5, marking the 1931 martyrs and the birth anniversary of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

“Jammu and Kashmir has finally seen a popular government after a long hiatus, marked by a significant voter turnout. When debating the budget and future vision, it is essential to acknowledge the sacrifices made in safeguarding democracy—whether it was Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah or those who laid down their lives on July 13 while resisting monarchy and fighting for democratic rights,” Para said.

The demand was backed by CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami and Congress leader Nizamuddin Bhat, who also called for Sharma to apologize. After the Speaker ruled to expunge the remarks, BJP members staged a protest and walked out of the House.

Prior to the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, July 13 was observed as a public holiday in J&K, commemorating 22 people killed by Dogra Maharaja’s forces outside Srinagar Central Jail in 1931.

However, after the region was reorganized into two Union Territories in 2019, the Lt Governor's Administration scrapped both the July 13 holiday and the December 5 holiday, which marked Sheikh Abdullah's birth anniversary—a move that continues to be a source of political contention in Jammu and Kashmir.