Sajad lone is one of the most influential faces of Kashmir’s politics. He has been accused of blindly supporting BJP in past. However, there seems to be a shift in his policy towards the saffron party.
Lone made headlines when he openly supported sons of separatist leader Ashraf Sehrai and condemning the government action of arresting them. They were put in custody for allegedly raising Pro-Pakistan slogans during funeral of their father. Police registered cases mentioning names of 20 people who were involved in this incident. Peoples Conference’s President tweeted raising questions.
Sajad Lone has held various portfolios like science and technology and animal husbandry in BJP and PDP’s coalition government. In 2018, he also claimed to form government in J&K with BJP’s support. In November 2018, when political parties like NC and Congress expressed their support to PDP to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir, Sajad Lone was the one to oppose it. He claimed that he had enough MLAs backing him to form government.
Lone told a news outlet that he wrote a letter to the Governor claiming that he has enough support of MLAs. He said that he had numbers to form the government. He said that when Governor decided to dissolve the assembly has been accepted by all, the PDP should go to court.
He was also accused of breaking alliance of political parties and forming the “third front”. He said that NC and PDP can’t preach others on democracy when they have been involved in undermining the democratic institutions of the state with impunity. All of his actions are legal and in accordance with the constitution which can’t be said about whatever NC has done in the past.
At that time, he accused them of rigging the 1987 elections. He said that as a result of elections rigging, guns came to Kashmir and one lakh people lost their lives. PDP was also involved in undermining the state’s democracy in 1984 and in 1987. He said that both of these parties shouldn’t lecture others.