Political Prisoners Must Be Brought Back to J&K”: NC MLA Altaf Kullo Says, Statehood must be restored at earliest.

Farooq tantray CNI

National Conference leader Altaf Kullo on Monday demanded that political prisoners lodged outside Jammu and Kashmir be brought back to their home region, asserting that such a step is necessary on humanitarian grounds.Speaking to reporters outside the J&K Legislative Assembly in Jammu, as per CNIKullo said they have consistently requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure that political prisoners are shifted back to Jammu and Kashmir. “We were never against bringing them back to their own places. They must be returned to J&K,” he said.Commenting on PDP leader Iltija Mufti’s visit to Bijbehara, which falls in his constituency, Kullo said there were reports about sanctioning of a railway track in the area, a move he strongly opposed. “We do not need railway connectivity there and we strongly condemn such a proposal. Our MP Mian Altaf Sahib has also condemned it. We will meet Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and request him that the proposed railway line towards Pahalgam is unnecessary, as it is a short stretch and does not require a rail link,” he said.Taking a dig at Iltija Mufti, Kullo said she should focus on her own constituency. “She should look into the area from where she lost to an NC candidate by a huge margin instead of showing sympathy towards the people of Pahalgam,” he remarked.He further asserted that the people of Pahalgam do not require any external support. “As long as their MLA Altaf Kullo is alive, the people of Pahalgam do not need any kind of support,” he said. “We want statehood back, and we don’t accept, decision of 5th august and we say it is unconstitutional,” Altaf added. Cni