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Journalism of Courage
Breaking away from the separatist ranks,People’s Conference leader Sajjad Lone announced his decision to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,becoming the first secessionist to join the democratic process.
Making the announcement at a press conference in Srinagar,42-year-old Lone said that he was aspiring to enter Parliament to raise the voice of Kashmiris.
He noted that Pakistan or “some agencies” may not like his decision but underlined that he needed to make a bid to reach Parliament as he wanted “bigger platform” to “represent Kashmiri people”.
Lone,son of one of Hurriyat Conference’s founder leaders Abdul Ghani Lone,said he should not be “pre-judged” but allowed to pursue his “new method” of the same “ideology”.
“Give me a chance… Pray for my victory,” he said. “I will not alter my ideology but it is my method,” Lone said.
Insisting that his decision would not affect the separatist cause,the People’s Conference leader said “separatism is much bigger than a separatist”.
Giving reasons for his decision,he said he had “no choice” as no space was given to him by the Hurriyat Conference.
“I am not seeking any power. If I had wanted power,I would have contested Assembly elections,” Lone said. At the same time,he claimed that it was not any “victory” for Indian democracy.
