Altaf Hamid Rao,
MIRPUR (AJK): Former puppet chief minister of Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir and National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah has said that his party welcomes newly elected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s desire of having a cordial relationship with India.
“We hope that the Indian government responds positively to Imran Khan and takes concrete steps to peacefully address all outstanding issues including the core issue of Kashmir,” Dr. Farooq Abdullah said while addressing his party workers at the grave of his father – Sheikh Abdullah in occupied Srinagar late Saturday, says a report reaching here Sunday from across the line of control.
Dr Farooq, according to the report, said that the atmosphere of fear and hatred was being created in the state. “TV channels have played a primary role in spreading falsehood about Kashmir and its people. It’s very unfortunate that some people are spreading canards about impending attacks on Kashmiri Pandit families who are residing in Kashmir. This is a very serious issue and deserves in depth investigation by police”, he feared.
Lambasting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing Municipal and Panchayat elections like a ‘Hitler’ from the ramparts of the red fort, former puppet chief minister of Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir and National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Saturday asked the Modi government to fall in line with the people of Jammu & Kashmiri to safeguard Article 35-A and Article 370, guaranteeing special status to the people of Jammu and Kashmir or be ready to hear from us “let you have your own way and we our own way”.
Abdullah, according to the report, also threatened to boycott Lok Sabha and “assembly elections” if Modi government doesn’t address the concerns of people of Jammu and Kashmir on Article 35-A and Article 370.
“Notably, NC held a commemorative function and congregational Fateha Khwani at Qaid Mazaar, Srinagar to pay tributes to “Sher-e-Kashmir” Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on his 36th Death Anniversary”, the report said.
“Sher-e-Kashmir chose to spend 22 years in jails but never compromised on his ideology. He lived his life for the poor and disempowered and every battle he fought was a righteous battle to uphold the dignity of the State and its people,” Dr Abdullah asserted adding, “The best tribute to the departed leader would be to fight against those forces who are hell bent to divide people based on region and religion with all might and ensure their designs are defeated.”
On the occasion, Dr Abdullah reiterated the party’s commitment of protecting states special status at any cost and said that any tinkering with Art 370 and Art 35 A will prove disastrous for the whole country. He said that the party will not participate in either Assembly or parliament elections until and unless government of India reveals its official stand on Art 35 A and protect it with all its might in the Hon’ble SC.
“If the Indian government doesn’t stand up for our rights now, enshrined in the constitution and fails to protect Art 35-A in the Indian Supreme Court, then we will not participate in the forthcoming parliament and “assembly elections”. This is our identity and any attack on it will be direct attack on the people of the state. We are committed to do everything possible to protect it,” Dr Abdullah said.
“The powers that be used Peoples Democratic Party and its leadership to weaken our fiscal autonomy. Implementation of SARFAESI Act and GST in the state was part of that design. Now they have started targeting the validation of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution as well. He said that he want to reiterate that if they continue with such brazenness then it will be fair to say that the so-called accession of the state to India will come into question. Art 35-A is not for any one region or religion of the State but is an article of faith and honour for all regions and religions. It is equally important for people in Jammu and Ladakh as it is in Kashmir,” Dr Abdullah added, according to the report.