KATHUA: National Conference President, Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate process for addressing the internal and external dimension of problems in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that dialogue is the only option to steer out the state from the present morass.
“Peace and cooperation forms core of neighbourly relations and therefore India and Pakistan must resume dialogue”, Dr Farooq Abdullah said while addressing workers at Kathua this afternoon.
The NC President, accompanied by former minister Mian Altaf Ahmed and Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, invoked the Vajpayee doctrine and said that if neighbours cannot be changed, what stops the two countries to talk to each other and resolve their problems amicably.
The function was organized by Qasim-ud-Din Bania and Devinder Singh Bindhu.
Farooq hoped hostilities to be overtaken by better understanding between the two nations, saying peace is imperative for prosperity in the subcontinent and bringing relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have been the worse victims of animosity. He made a mention of border skirmishes over decades and said that these were detrimental for both India and Pakistan, as any full-fledged conflict between the nuke states will lead to devastation and destruction in the entire region. He also urged New Delhi to address the political issue of Kashmir by talking to all shades of public opinion on priority, as further delay will only worsen the situation. He said that everyone needs to be talked to, be it Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, if end goal is to herald peace in the state. Referring to the accusations of the PDP in holding National Conference responsible for the Kashmir unrest, Dr Abdullah said: “Those blaming us are conveniently forgetting the historical role of National Conference in upholding the unity of the state and safeguarding interests of its people by fighting tyranny and oppression tirelessly. History is replete of innumerable sacrifices of our workers for the honour and dignity of the people”. He said being the inheritor of the legacy of sacrifices; the National Conference will always stand by the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. He advised the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to shun petty politics for concealing the failures of her government. He also referred to forcible eviction of some segments of society from their dwelling places which they have been rehabilitating from generations and said those harassing them will have to answer for harassing innocent people. He cautioned against the machinations of divisive forces, who, he said, were trying to divide people on one or the other pretext. “Unity and amity are the strongest tools to isolate such elements, whose politics is based on whipping up passions by exploiting public sentiment”, he added.
The National Conference President said the PDP-BJP coalition cannot hide its failures by indulging in blame games. “They will have to account for mis-governance and the mess created across the state by non-performance during past over one and a half year”, he said and took jibe over the coalition for talking about resumption of tourist activity. He said the infrastructure is in shambles due to developmental inertia and the coalition is expecting tourists to visit the state with no facilities available. He said roads were in dilapidated condition and utility services worth just name. He said lack of governance has taken heavy toll of public utilities, thus leaving the people to fend for themselves.
Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustaffa Kamal, while addressing the workers, said that National Conference will isolate all those forces who were attempting to divide the society on regional and religious lines.