Latest news with #SajadGaniLone
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sajad Lone files RTI to assess job reservation impact on Kashmiris
Peoples Conference president and Handwara legislator Sajad Gani Lone on Thursday called for a 'scientific and statistical analysis' of the reservation policy, claiming that it disproportionately affects the Kashmiri-speaking ethnic group. Peoples Conference president and Handwara legislator Sajad Gani Lone. (File) Lone, in a statement, said that he has filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to gather recruitment data from the last ten government examinations. This data, he said, will help create a 'statistically scientific basis' to evaluate the policy's impact. 'We need the actual marks scored by candidates and the final selection list. By comparing a merit list without reservation with one where reservation is applied, we can quantify the damage inflicted on the Kashmiri-speaking ethnic group,' Lone said. He proposed using selection data from past ten recruitment exams as a sample set, which could be expanded later for broader statistical relevance. 'If the government introduces a revised reservation system, the party will apply it retrospectively to the same recruitment data to assess its effects,' he added. Describing the approach as rational and evidence-based, Lone said, 'Let us end all debates and decide things purely on a scientific basis. And apply remedies on a scientific basis,' he said. In a message to policymakers, Lone cautioned against letting electoral considerations overshadow youth interests. 'Let us separate votes from the future of our youngsters. Let dreams not be massacred at the altar of votes,' he said.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
People's Alliance for Change launched in Kashmir to speak same language in Srinagar, Jammu and Delhi
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Srinagar: Three Kashmir-based political parties -- Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference (JKPC), People's Democratic Front (PDF) and the recently formed Justice and Development Front (JDF) -- on Monday announced the formation of People's Alliance for Change (PAC).Describing the PAC as an alternative platform representing the oppressed people of the region, they said it will strive for restoration of statehood, Article 370 and 35 (A) with justice and president Sajad Gani Lone announced the formation of the PAC at his official residence in the presence of PDF president Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, JDF president Shamim Ahmad Thokar and former minister Abdul Gani Vakil. The JDF was formed by select members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami who also unsuccessfully fought the recent assembly election in J&K.'We have experienced pain and not inflicted it. This alliance addresses the barrenness of the political landscape of J&K and provides an alternative electoral platform to the people,' Lone said at a presser in Srinagar. The leaders signed a joint 'declaration of change' which they said would be the roadmap for the JKPC chief said there had been no closure to the decades of pain 'because those who inflicted it still rule'. 'That must end. The real victims must now represent the pain they carry,' he PAC called for general amnesty for political prisoners and conflict-affected youths, the reintegration of the marginalised and an end to exclusionary politics.'Up to 90 percent of new government job appointments have gone to the Jammu region as the reservation is systematically biased against Kashmiris and traditional political parties are enabling injustice through inaction,' Lone also targeted chief minister Omar Abdullah, referring to him as the 'BJP's chief minister' who often goes to pay 'deferential respects' and gift Kashmiri shawls to BJP urged the central government to give 'compassion and magnanimity' a chance and to give up the policy of 'vindictiveness'.JDF president Thokar said that despite ideological differences among its constituents, the PAC shares a vision, value and goal. 'Those who have inflicted pain cannot claim to represent us. We realised we cannot move ahead alone. We invite all like-minded parties to join this platform,' he said. 'Pain is not a commodity to be traded in the marketplace; it is something one must live through to truly comprehend.'PDF chairman Yaseen asserted that the PAC stands firmly on the foundation of transparency and an unwavering commitment to restoring the dignity of the people.'Our resolve is clear: we will not indulge in double-speak, saying one thing in Kashmir, another in Jammu and something entirely different in New Delhi. This alliance is built on a unified, people-centric agenda, crafted through consensus and aimed particularly at the vast majority who have borne the brunt of decades of suffering. That chapter of pain must end — and it will,' he general secretary Molvi Imran Reza Ansari said that the alliance is rooted in justice and equality which, he said, have become essential in the present times. 'Today, the rights of the people are being obliterated. Had the present government — and those before it — been truly committed to public welfare and sincerely addressed the grievances and aspirations of the people, there would have been no need for the formation of this alliance,' he said, adding that 'whosoever speaks the truth here is jailed'.Meanwhile, the ruling National Conference and opposition BJP hit out at the PAC. The NC labelled it as the BJP's proxy while the BJP subbed it for demanding restoration of Article 370 and befooling NC legislator Tanvir Sadiq in an oblique reference to the PAC wrote, "Look who's back, the BJP's loyal 'B-Team,' freshly repackaged as an alternative. Rejected by the people, resurrected by remote. When ideology fails, desperation unites." Sadiq further wrote on X, "Let's just call them Party B Pro Max, Now with Extra Obedience."The BJP's general secretary in J&K, Ashok Koul, said that demanding restoration of Article 370 is day dreaming. "They are misleading people. No power can restore Article 370," Koul told reporters here.
News18
30-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Sajad Lone's Party Joins Hands With PDF, JDF To Launch New Political Front In J&K
Last Updated: Leaders of three parties formed a new political front, "People's Alliance for Change," in Jammu and Kashmir to address "leadership and accountability" issues. Almost eight months after the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, leaders of the Peoples Conference (PC), Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Justice and Development Front joined hands to float a new political front called the 'People's Alliance for Change". The announcement came on Monday at a press conference here by PC chief Sajad Gani Lone, PDF leaders, and leaders of the Justice and Development Front. The leaders said that the new alliance will work together for the democratic rights of the people. The organisational structure would be collectively announced by the constituent parties soon, they said. The alliance, according to members, aims to provide an alternative political vision in the Union Territory and address what they termed the 'crisis of leadership and accountability" in J&K. Lone said the new alliance offers a viable alternative to the people, as they have endured immense suffering. 'We are committed to driving change. The current political landscape is barren, and our alliance offers a viable alternative," he added. Senior Shia Muslim leader and prominent leader of the PC, Imran Raza Ansari, was also present during the announcement. Shamim Ahmad Thokar, President of the Justice and Development Front, a political party informally established by a Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI)-affiliated candidate, said, 'We cannot succeed alone. To serve the people effectively, we must unite. Our party will join this alternative alliance." All three parties were wiped out in the elections, which were held for the first time since the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two union territories. National Conference-Congress alliance emerged victorious, winning 48 seats (NC-42 and Congress 6) in the 90-member assembly. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 29 seats while former CM Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) could win only three seats. Among the three parties in this new alliance, only Sajad Gani Lone could win the legislative Assembly elections in 2024 from the Handwara Assembly constituency in Kupwara district. Imran Raza Ansari also fought the election from Pattan Assembly constituency in Baramulla district, but was defeated by Riyaz Ahmad Bedar of the National Conference by a narrow margin of less than 300 votes. Hakeem Yasin of the PDF fought the Assembly elections from the Khansahib constituency, but was defeated for the first time by the National Conference candidate. Leaders of the Jamaat backed the Justice and Development Front fought on some seats in the South Kashmir districts. In the Kulgam Assembly constituency, once believed to be the political stronghold of the Jamaat, its backed candidate was defeated by CPI(M)'s Yusuf Tarigama. First Published: June 30, 2025, 16:41 IST
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Kashmiris will no longer tolerate violence: Sajad Lone on Pahalgam attack
The barbaric attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam has awakened the people of Kashmir, who will no longer tolerate violence, Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone said on Monday. Speaking on a resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to condemn the April 22 terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, Lone asserted that the people must be engaged positively rather than pushed back by punitive actions. He said several areas of Jammu and Kashmir are earning their livelihoods from the tourism sector, and the dastardly terror attack was a direct attempt to uproot a generation. "We are thankful to our nation, which woke up after 35 years to unequivocally condemn the attack on our guests. "Leaving politics aside, I am of the opinion that the violence has some sort of acceptance in our society as some people have accepted it as a legitimate thing, but their number is continuously declining," Lone said. A former minister whose father and Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone was also assassinated by terrorists, Lone said there was a social sanctity to violence in the Kashmiri society, but that has changed post the Pahalgam incident. "We saw people coming out in every nook and corner to mark the social stigmatisation of violence. The people are no more ready to accept the violence this is the start of the end of social sanctity of violence," he said. However, he asserted that there is a need to create such an atmosphere where the mindset linked to the social sanctity of violence must be changed. "The biggest challenge for the law enforcers in the last 37 years was, at times, not being able to distinguish between an innocent and a terrorist. For capturing a terrorist, we have seen four innocents getting killed and villages burnt down in the past three decades, he said. Lone requested that the law enforcement agencies not do anything intentionally or unintentionally where a mindset is forced on people against their wishes. "I do not want to make any accusation against anyone, but people like Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who sacrificed his life saving tourists, need to be created in thousands. Police and army have a limited role as it is the inhabitants of this place who will eventually defeat violence. The law enforcers can only contain violence," he said. Lone, a former minister, said the atmosphere in the country changed altogether after lakhs of people came out against the terror attack, but we need to make necessary corrections to keep the tempo (against terrorism) going and also engage all the stakeholders in a positive manner. Lone also paid tributes to the victims of the attack and lauded their family members for showing maturity and making statements that lowered tempers across the country. He also hailed the Kashmiri youngsters who, without caring for their lives, helped the tourists after the terror attack. CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami cautioned people against the Hindu-Muslim divide and said the terrorists have no religion, as was evident from the fact that the majority of the people who lost their lives in the last 35 years are Muslims. He asked people not to fall prey to the propaganda of the vested interests and uphold their unity at all costs to defeat terrorism. National Conference MLA from Pahalgam, Altaf Ahmad Wani, said that after 25 years, such an incident has happened, and no words are enough to condemn this brutal act. He said the people of Kashmir, especially Pahalgam, need to be appreciated for providing selfless services and care to the injured tourists and others. PDP's Waheed ur Rehman Parra said the Pahalgam incident is a crime against humanity and not only a terrorist act. People from all walks of Kashmir condemned it and showed that we are against terrorism through a series of peaceful rallies and candlelight marches, he said, and sought martyr status for the victims.
The Print
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
People of Kashmir will no longer tolerate violence: Sajad Lone on Pahalgam attack
He said several areas of Jammu and Kashmir are earning their livelihoods from the tourism sector, and the dastardly terror attack was a direct attempt to uproot a generation. Speaking on a resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to condemn the April 22 terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, Lone asserted that the people must be engaged positively rather than pushed back by punitive actions. Jammu, Apr 28 (PTI) The barbaric attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam has awakened the people of Kashmir, who will no longer tolerate violence, Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone said on Monday. 'We are thankful to our nation, which woke up after 35 years to unequivocally condemn the attack on our guests. 'Leaving politics aside, I am of the opinion that the violence has some sort of acceptance in our society as some people have accepted it as a legitimate thing, but their number is continuously declining,' Lone said. A former minister whose father and Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone was also assassinated by terrorists, Lone said there was a 'social sanctity' to violence in the Kashmiri society, but that has changed post the Pahalgam incident. 'We saw people coming out in every nook and corner to mark the social stigmatisation of violence. The people are no more ready to accept the violence – this is the start of the end of social sanctity of violence,' he said. However, he asserted that there is a need to create such an atmosphere where the mindset linked to the social sanctity of violence must be changed. 'The biggest challenge for the law enforcers in the last 37 years was, at times, not being able to distinguish between an innocent and a terrorist. For capturing a terrorist, we have seen four innocents getting killed and villages burnt down in the past three decades,' he said. Lone requested that the law enforcement agencies not do anything intentionally or unintentionally where a mindset is forced on people against their wishes. 'I do not want to make any accusation against anyone, but people like Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who sacrificed his life saving tourists, need to be created in thousands. Police and army have a limited role as it is the inhabitants of this place who will eventually defeat violence. The law enforcers can only contain violence,' he said. Lone, a former minister, said the atmosphere in the country changed altogether after lakhs of people came out against the terror attack, but 'we need to make necessary corrections to keep the tempo (against terrorism) going and also engage all the stakeholders in a positive manner.' Lone also paid tributes to the victims of the attack and lauded their family members for showing maturity and making statements that lowered tempers across the country. He also hailed the Kashmiri youngsters who, without caring for their lives, helped the tourists after the terror attack. CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami cautioned people against the Hindu-Muslim divide and said the terrorists have no religion, as was evident from the fact that the majority of the people who lost their lives in the last 35 years are Muslims. He asked people not to fall prey to the propaganda of the vested interests and uphold their unity at all costs to defeat terrorism. National Conference MLA from Pahalgam, Altaf Ahmad Wani, said that after 25 years, such an incident has happened, and no words are enough to condemn this brutal act. He said the people of Kashmir, especially Pahalgam, need to be appreciated for providing selfless services and care to the injured tourists and others. PDP's Waheed ur Rehman Parra said the Pahalgam incident is a crime against humanity and not only a terrorist act. 'People from all walks of Kashmir condemned it and showed that we are against terrorism through a series of peaceful rallies and candlelight marches,' he said, and sought martyr status for the victims. PTI TAS RHL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
