Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 15: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today urged India and Pakistan to start a sustained, comprehensive dialogue on Kashmir as it was against the interests of both countries to prolong the political issue. (Click here to watch video)
While addressing an NC rally in border town Uri, Farooq said: “It is against the interests of both India and Pakistan to keep the Kashmir issue unresolved and has staggering economic and political costs for both neighbours. If we want to usher the subcontinent into an era of peace, prosperity and economic progress – it is imperative to resolve the Kashmir issue as per sentiments and aspirations of its people”, he added.
The NC president reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his speech where he underlined the need to embrace the people of Kashmir. “Modi should now take concrete steps to engage with the people of Kashmir with full dignity and respect for their sentiments in a sustained effort to resolve the Kashmir issue”, he added.
Reiterating his statement on Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Dr Abdullah dared Centre to take back PoK, saying Pakistanis are neither weak nor they are wearing bangles in their hands.
Farooq said India has failed to reclaim PoK during past 70 years. “PoK is not your ‘Baap Ka Hissa’ (share of father)”, he remarked.
The NC president said that a day will come when people would cross LoC in a manner as if they are going from one house to another. “A day will come when you will cross the LoC in such a manner as if going from one house to another. Have belief on this. That day will come and without that, there would be no peace in this country,” he said.
The NC president, referring to a case filed against him in Bihar, said the complainant doesn’t know actual situation of Kashmir. “A case has been filed against me. That too by a Muslim; may God protect him and look at his situation, he doesn’t know Kashmir. He doesn’t know our situation. They (Pakistan) drop a bomb, public and soldier die here (Kashmir) and when a bomb is dropped from here, our people and soldier also die there (PoK),” he said.
Farooq asked “how long would this storm continue to brew? Till blood of innocents would continue to flow and we will keep saying that (PoK) is our part”. “The PoK does not belong to their (Union Government’s) father. Seventy years have passed. That (PoK) is Pakistan and this (J&K) is India. Seventy years have passed but they (India) could not get (PoK),” he said.
Farooq while daring India to take PoK from Pakistan said:”Today they claim it is our part. So take away, we are also saying please take away it (PoK). We will also see. They too aren’t weak and are not wearing bangles. They too have atom bomb…before we keep thinking about fights, we should think how we will live as humans.”
The NC president said the time had come to start reversing the extension of all Central Laws that were extended to J&K after 1953 in continuation of the spirit of the State’s unique political arrangement with the rest of the country.
“The time has come to reverse the extension of all Central Laws that were extended to J&K post-1953 through pliant regimes that were installed in J&K through covert and undemocratic machinations to disempower the people of the State and rob them of their political identity. The erosion of the State’s Autonomy is the genesis of the political problem in Jammu and Kashmir and created a sense of disenchantment and disillusionment in the people. It was this sense of betrayal, disenchantment and disillusionment that has fuelled the eruption of turmoil and unrest in Kashmir at various regular intervals in our history and this is what New Delhi needs to acknowledge. The restoration of Autonomy to J&K is non-negotiable” Farooq said.
“The people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are the rightful and primary stakeholders and their political identity, honour and sense of dignity is supreme and no power on earth can rob them of their right to decide their political future. Our people have suffered immensely and rendered unimaginable sacrifices but never compromised on their aspirations and sentiments. Our people won’t surrender before achieving their goal of an acceptable political resolution that takes into account their aspirations”, the NC president said.
He expressed disappointment over PDP’s “sellout” over the crucial issue of the State’s fiscal autonomy and said the extension of GST to J&K was a plot to deprive the people of J&K of their political honour.
“PDP, in an effort to cling to power and ensure it remains in the Government, compromised on the State’s fiscal autonomy and wreaked havoc with the State’s remaining autonomy. Because of PDP, our State Cabinet and State Legislature have been disempowered in matters of taxation and tax policy. Today we are all at the mercy of the Central GST Council and our handicrafts sector, our artisans and businessmen are facing insurmountable challenges due to PDP’s sellout. This quid-pro-quo compromise by the PDP will have far-reaching economic and political implications for the State and its people”, Dr Abdullah said.
On the occasion NC president formally welcomed and admitted Dr. Sajjad Uri son of senior NC leader and MLA, Mohammad Shafi Uri into the NC. Sajjad had resigned from Government job after 12 years of service. “I welcome Dr. Sajjad Uri into the party fold and congratulate him for organizing such a rousing, successful public meeting. It is young, educated and passionate young men who will help in ushering our State into a period of corrective peace, growth and stability and I have full faith in Dr. Sajjad Uri’s ability to serve the people with full honesty and dedication”, he said.
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