Srinagar, September 19, 2025 : People’s Conference President and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone, on Friday criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for selectively using jailed JKLF chief Yasin Malik’s affidavit for political purposes.
“Backchannels Always Existed”
Addressing a press conference, Lone said that successive governments in New Delhi had maintained backchannel contacts with militant leaders or those who had given up arms.
“BJP is now making an issue out of Yasin Malik’s affidavit. They are using it to target the Congress. But the fact remains that all governments engaged in dialogue, sometimes directly, sometimes informally, with leaders who had renounced militancy,” Lone remarked.
Malik’s Affidavit & Political Selectivity
Referring to Malik’s affidavit—where he said he was ready to face capital punishment—Lone warned against using such documents selectively.
He recalled knowing Malik since his college days and visiting him frequently during his detention in Delhi.
“Some leaders who once picked up the gun are now either dead, in jail, or ironically under heavy security cover. This reality too is part of the process,” he added.
Double Standards in Politics
Lone accused parties of political inconsistency:
“On one hand, cases were filed against such leaders, and on the other hand, they were approached for dialogue. This double stance misleads the people,” he said.
He also criticized the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for raising “unrealistic expectations” on the restoration of Article 370 and 35A.
“People were told these provisions would return. But that was never a political reality,” Lone stated.
On Malik’s Politics
On Malik’s latest courtroom statements and his refusal to contest, Lone said he was not surprised:
“He has his own politics and his own way of expression. The community must see the bigger picture instead of being distracted by selective narratives.”
He also claimed that many cases against separatist leaders were framed with charges unrelated to militancy, aimed at undermining their political credibility.
