Surjeet on the Expulsion of Saiffudin Soz From the National Conference -- April 20

Date: 
Tuesday, April 20, 1999

Press Statement

Harkishan Singh Surjeet, General Secretary of the CPI(M) has issued the following statement:

It is unfortunate that the working committee of the National Conference has announced his expulsion, instead of appreciating the stand taken by Saiffudin Soz in defence of the principles and policies of the National Conference.

It is well known that the Praja Parishad, the predecessor of the present BJP, in Jammu and Kashmir was opposed to the people's struggle for liberation. Both the BJP and its predecessor have been strongly opposed to Article 370 (which was eroded over the years) and have in fact been demanding its abrogation, as opposed to the demand of the National Conference for provision of more autonomy to the state.

The National Conference had made a big contribution in strengthening the national liberation struggle and the state people's movement. When at a critical time imperialism succeeded in spreading the communal poison, the NC came out in defence of national unity. It gave leadership to the people of Kashmir who heroically fought against the Pakistani raiders in the immediate post-independence period.

Forgetting its past history and the dark deeds of the BJP and its predecessor, the NC has adopted a most unprincipled stand of supporting the BJP against those forces who have been supporting the struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This comes at a time when the growth of the communal forces has alarmed the democratic and secular forces throughout the country.

I hope that even at this stage the leaders and cadres of the National Conference will realise the gravity of the situation and will uphold the secular cause for which Saiffudin Soz has raised his voice.