STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: President Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday stressed the significance of dialogue between India and Pakistan to end hostilities, especially skirmishes on borders, the brunt of which is essentially being faced by people of the state.
“New Delhi should also open up channels of engagement with various stake-holders in the State, as PDP-BJP’s Agenda of Alliance is committed for discussions with all segments of people”, Dr Abdullah said while addressing party functionaries at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan this evening.
The NC chief said that most of the problems in Kashmir stem from the alliance of PDP with the BJP, as the people have not reconciled with this scenario, especially as the former virtually fought elections against the latter making inroads in the Valley. “The fact that the unrest is mostly south Kashmir specific is testimony to the anger of the people”, he said and asked how could a party make bonhomie with Sangh Parivar after having raised a tirade and anti BJP pitch across the Valley. Without naming any party or person, Dr Farooq asked, “Where have the crocodile tears gone which used to be shed during visits to homes of slain militants and where are the green robes”. He attributed deception and duplicity as root-cause of the present turmoil, regretting that the situation having been brought on rails stands derailed again.
Dr Abdullah also made a mention of the Jammu and Kashmir Opposition meeting Prime Minister, Narendra Modi wherein he admitted the problems in the Valley being of political in nature. “Therefore, it is all the more important to have the political dimensions of Kashmir issue resolved”, he added.
National Conference President recalled the promises made by New Delhi from time to time, saying had but for any forward movement the situation would have been totally different at this point of time. He said the promise made by the former Prime Minister, Narsimha Rao about sky being the limit for autonomy proved a crude joke as New Delhi did not walk the talk.
Dr Abdullah referred to the problems being confronted to border dwellers in the wake of shelling and asked the cadre to reach out to them to demonstrate their solidarity. He also emphasized the need for maintaining unity and communal amity, saying this has been corner stone of the state’s pluralistic ethos and harmark of NC philosophy.
“If communal amity and tranquility was at its best during most turbulent times, what has gone wrong now”, he said and warned against sowing seeds of hatred between various segments of society and regions of the state. “In such a vicious atmosphere, the role of National Conference cadre has become more challenging and I hope that we will overcome the difficulties facing to the state”, he added.
Dr Abdullah also expressed concern over evicting a segment of population from their dwelling places, saying the fact of six to seven decades cannot be undone on the whims of any individual or any party. “They must learn to live in harmony, as inclusiveness alone is the mantra for united Jammu and Kashmir”, he added.
The National Conference President expressed anguish over colossal damages caused due to fire in Sakhnoi village of Kishtwar district, saying this is a tragedy and “we all share the pain and agony of sufferers”. He sought immediate rehabilitation of the fire victims, especially in view of ensuing winter months.
On the occasion, several PDP workers joined National Conference in presence of Dr Farooq Abdullah. They included Showkat Chowdhary from PDP and his associates.
Dr Abdullah greeted the new entrants and hoped they will further st4engthen the party at grass roots level.
Among the prominent functionaries, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana besides Senior State Vice President Surjeet Singh Slathia, State Vice Presidents Rattan Lal Gupta and Th Kashmira Singh, MLA Dr Kamal Arora, former Minister Babu Rampal, former Dy Speaker Ghulam Hyder Malik, Advisor to the Party President Vijay Bakaya, former legislators, senior functionaries of Women Wing, SC/ST/OBC Cells, Youth National Conference and District Committees, Jammu Urban and Jammu Rural.
‘Muslims won’t accept anything forced on them’
Jammu: Warning that Muslims across India would not tolerate any “interference” with Muslim Personal Laws, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the religious panel has the veto to look into the issues concerning the Sharia law.
“Every religion has its way. If someone forces something on Hindu religion, will they accept it? In Islam, there is a committee that looks into the matters of Sharia law. If someone wants to force anything, Muslims will not accept it,” he told reporters here. For the first time in India’s constitutional history, the Centre had on October 7 opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, ‘nikah halala’ and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on grounds of gender equality and secularism. Many Muslim bodies, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, have opposed the Centre’s stand. On asked about his son Omar Abdullah being subjected to secondary immigration check upon his arrival in US today, the NC leader said the US cannot catch real terrorists, but harass innocent people. “They (US) cannot catch real terrorists, but harass those who have nothing to do with terrorism,” he said. Farooq said that in the past too, the US had done the same with former President APJ Abdul Kalam and former defence minister George Fernandes, who were subjected to extra screening during their visit to that country.
