Newly-inducted J&K Minister Mir Saifullah pledges NC will “restore pre-1953 position, reclaim J&K flag”

Newly inducted National Conference (NC) Minister Mir Saifullah. File. | Photo credit: ANI

Ruling National Conference (NC) minister Mir Saifullah said on Monday (Nov 9, 2026) that the party is committed to fight for the “return of usurped special status and a separate flag” for Jammu and Kashmir.

“Whatever was looted will be taken back. It was the NC that got pre-1953 status, Article 370 and a separate flag for J&K. The fight for their return has begun. We all start from zero but one day we will reach 100. The fight has begun,” said Mr Saifullah, a lawmaker from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Mr. Saifullah made the statement at a rally held in Kralpora from Trehgam constituency, Kupwara, for the first time since his induction into Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s cabinet on October 27.

Mr. Saifullah said that Kashmir was brazenly reduced to a Union Territory (UT) on August 5, 2019. “The reduction and partition of J&K on August 5, 2019 was a ‘zulum’ (injustice) that no part of the world had seen. It was a stab in the chest. Our flag and constitution were added. Hands were taken away from all parties. Hands were taken away from all parties.

He said NC is for everyone and “statehood and Article 35A will be restored”. “Only NC can do that,” he added.

Mr. Saifullah, party founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, who described the NC as “a movement and not just a party”, is the man behind the multi-dimensional development in the society. “We had no schools, no hospitals, no roads, no universities, no water supply. Sheikh Abdullah of NC worked on all this.”

Published – November 10, 2026 10:35 AM IST