STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: National Conference on Sunday lambasted Bharaitya Janata Party (BJP) for raising hue and cry over the observations of Dr Farooq Abdullah with regard to LoC, saying that these are based on facts as history stands testimony that the Line of Control has not been altered during the past nearly seven decades.
Questioning BJP’s political understanding, senior National Conference leaders in a joint statement said, “We want Line of Control to be the line of peace, line of mutual understanding, trust and regional cooperation rather than line of conflict and animosity”. They hoped that India and Pakistan would come to terms with this reality and live like good neighbours.
“We cannot progress and prosper, carrying the baggage of animosity and hostility any longer, as generations have perished in pursuit of peace and tranquillity”, senior party leaders said while recalling that such a proposal was seriously considered by Atal Behari Vajpyee during his premiership while discussing the issue with his Pakistan counterpart. “And, both the leaders had agreed to the preposition in principle”, they added.
Lashing out at the BJP for it’s uncalled for reaction to the assertion of Dr Farooq Abdullah, National Conference said that they should open up their minds and not behave like ostrich. “Facing realities is better part of valour”, they said, adding that jingoistic posturing will only push the Indo-Pak subcontinent to destruction and devastation. They referred to the colossal loss to human lives during the four wars between the two countries and the ongoing proxy war in the Valley and said allowing this situation to continue will be grave injustice with future generations, who too have right to progress and prosper in a healthy and peaceful environment.
They said reactionary politics was detrimental for harmonious growth of this region and advised the BJP to show symptoms of political maturity by viewing the ground realities through prism of global scenario. “Muscle flexing and reactionary response to saner viewpoint only demonstrates BJPs political bankruptcy”, the statement said while criticising over-sensitivity of the right wing cadre in terms of taking to streets.
“BJP must introspect over its words and deeds”, the National Conference leaders said while reminding the party how its senior minister escorted five terrorists including Azhar Masood to Kandhar. With such knee-bending, it does not augur well for the party to always demonstrate bravado, they added.
Besides Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, signatories to the joint statement included senior leaders and former ministers Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Surjeet Singh Slathia, Malik Abdul Gani, Harbans Singh, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari, Sajjad Kichloo, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, Babu Rampal, legislators Javed Rana, Dr Kamal Arora and Master Noor Hussain, former MPs Mirza Abdul Rashid and Sheikh Abdul Rehman, former legislators Rattan Lal Gupta, Th Kashmira Singh, Th Rachpal Singh, Vijay Bakaya, Ajaz Jan, Malik Ghulam Haider, Satpal Lakhotra, Bushan Lal Bhat, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Brij Mohan Sharma, Bimla Luthra, Deepinder Kour, Dr Chaman Lal, Som Nath Khajuria, Ch Haroon, Jugal Mahajan,
Anil Dhar, S.S Sasan, Vijay Lochan, Abdul Gani Teli, Satwant Kour Dogra, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal and Sajjad Shaheen.
