‘Their leadership should have countered propaganda’
Jammu ignored in G20, Ambassadors’ visit
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 15: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today said the Congress leaders couldn’t counter the narrative set by the BJP in Jammu that terrorism will return to the region if they (NC-Congress) are voted to power.
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“I’m sorry to say but the Congress leaders didn’t succeed in countering the narrative set by our adversary (a reference towards the BJP) that if they (NC and Congress) come to power, the terrorism will return to Jammu. There is still terrorism in Jammu. The Congress leaders were left behind in checking this campaign,” Farooq said in an interview with a national news agency.
He said if more Congress leaders would have visited the Jammu region, interacted with the people and countered the propaganda and delivered the message that they are with the people and the country is with them, then the situation would have been different.
“G20 summit was held here (Srinagar), Jammu was ignored. Ambassadors came here, why they were not taken to Jammu? The Embassy people were brought to Srinagar during the elections, why they were not taken to Jammu? They (the BJP leaders) think Jammu is in their pocket. We have to change this narrative,” Farooq said.
On Congress defeat in Haryana, Dr Farooq said the media gave an impression that the Congress is getting majority which made the party leaders a bit lazy as they thought they are forming the Government.
“We should take the elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand seriously. There is tough fight. There should be no slackness among the leaders,” Farooq, whose party the National Conference is part of INDIA bloc, said.
Farooq expressed his happiness over External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visiting Pakistan for the 23rd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government and hoped that both countries will start a new chapter for peace.
“I am happy that the ice has broken with all our differences with Pakistan…I hope that both countries will start a new chapter for peace. I hope that good things will happen and that EAM S Jaishankar will remember former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s words that friends can be changed but not the neighbours.
“I hope he carries that message with him. Pakistan and India are one country before it was divided. Trade rather than going through Dubai will go directly through the Wagah border. A new chapter of friendship will start as much hatred has existed in the past. This hatred affects the Hindus in Pakistan and Muslims in India,” Farooq said.
The NC president said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have expectations from the party and they will live up to them.
“The public has a lot of expectations from us and I hope we will live up to their expectations. The Central Government should restore Statehood as soon as possible and give all the powers to the Government so that it can provide relief to the public,” Farooq said.
On Canada, Dr Abdullah suggested that India should pursue friendly relations with Canada and not abandon the path of diplomacy.
“I regret this situation; we should establish a friendship. If they claim that our Indian Government did this, the Indian Government denies it. I don’t have much information on the matter. How did they receive the information they’re discussing? It was provided to Canada by the U.S. American intelligence informed Canada that individuals from India’s RAW were involved in Nijjar’s murder. They supplied evidence, which Canada has now presented to the Indian Government. I don’t know what the Indian Government will do, but we should not stray from the path of friendship,” he added.
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