Reiterating National Conference stand for restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before conducting Assembly polls, NC vice-president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today hinted that abrogation of Article 370 is not on election agenda of the party.
Our stand is very clear that Statehood should be restored before elections and for other issues, whether it is Article 370 or what happened on August 5, 2019, our fight will continue in the Supreme Court, which is seized of the issue” he said while talking to media persons after a meeting of senior NC leaders at the party headquarters in Jammu today.
NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah chaired the meeting, which was attended by senior functionaries of the party for discussing overall scenario and party affairs in Jammu province.
Reminding that Prime Minister and Home Minister of the country have made commitment in the Parliament for restoration of Statehood to J&K, Omar Abdullah said that same was his party’s stand and there should not be further delay in a good work.
“Restore full Statehood before polls; we have no objection on decision of the Election Commission, which has to take a call on holding the elections for which we were ready since 2019 when our Assembly was dissolved,” he said.
Maintaining that his party would continue its fight in the Supreme Court over what happened on august 5, 2019, Omar Abdullah dropped enough hint that Articles 370 and 35-A are no more on election agenda of the National Conference, a major constituent of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), which was formed last year for restoration of J&K’s special status.
However, at the same time, the NC leader lashed out at BJP for creating false narrative on Article 370 and alleged that abrogation of J&K special status has only added miseries to people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“People were told that Article 370 was only obstacle in development of J&K. It was said that abrogation of 370 will usher a new era of development and remove unemployment. But, where has gone the promised employment, development and investment? Even those earning livelihood have been rendered jobless,” he said.
The former Chief Minister claimed that decisions like curtailing Darbar Move, which was outcome of August 5, 2019 development, has directly affected Jammu traders, who were benefitting more than their Kashmir counterparts because of the Secretariat move.
“So I again ask who was benefitted of August 5, 2019 decision if corruption and unemployment didn’t end. Ask any DDC Chairman who will tell you that no developmental works are taking place,” said Omar Abdullah and pooh-poohed BJP claims of ushering new era of development in J&K after abrogation of Article 370.
Replying to a query, the NC leader also accused BJP of adopting double standards on the issue of Talibans taking over Afghanistan and asked the Central Government to clarify its stand on terrorism.
“Either Taliban is a terrorist organization or not. Clarify to us, how you see them. If they are terrorist group, why are you talking to them? If not, then will you (Government of India) move to United Nations and have it delisted as a terror organization so that their bank accounts can operate. Clarify your stand. You can’t have two yardsticks,” said Omar Abdullah.
However, the NC leader extended his support to the BJP Government’s move on monetization of assets and said he had no reason to oppose the scheme that was looking to monetize an asset that was otherwise not being able to give a suitable return.
“If the same asset is privatized, I would then have asked question to the Government. But as far as monetization is concerned and ownership is not transferred and the Government is able to earn from an asset that is dead why should I oppose,” he said, reiterating that he supports any scheme that will allow the Government to get revenue without putting burden on common people.
“Our opposition is to heavily taxing fuel. The way you (Central Government) are taxing diesel, petrol and LPG cylinder prices are going up, I am opposed to that,” he said and hoped that the process to be followed for monetization would be transparent one and not to benefit BJP friends only.
Earlier, NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah, while addressing day-long interactive session with the party functionaries of Jammu Province, debunked the BJP claim about ‘all is well in Jammu and Kashmir’, saying if so, how come even its activists are being killed in unfortunate militancy violence.
He made a special reference to the acts of violence against the elected representatives and called for adequate security to those elected to Panchayati Raj Institutions, as they are required to visit their areas for the purposes of development and to listen to the people.
Farooq Abdullah said the people; especially the youth, are encountered with numerous problems as the promises made have proved just a hoax. “The unemployment is on the rise and the educated unemployed are undergoing a phase of despair. The trend is needed to be arrested by opening up vistas of opportunities in terms of employment generation and recruitment on the fast track basis,” he added.
Dr Abdullah, however, expressed optimism about things changing for the better in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the National Conference has to play a vital role in this regard. He called for further rejuvenating the party at the grass-roots level and enhancing the public outreach at all levels. He said the National Conference cadre has to get further activated to meet the challenges. “Dejected and disillusioned people are looking towards the National Conference with hope and we have to prepare ourselves to meet their aspirations,” he said and asked the functionaries to mobilize workers for identifying the problems and agitating these at appropriate fora.
“We are passing through most difficult times and there is a crucial need of maintaining guard against polarizing forces by upholding our unity”, Dr Farooq Abdullah said and added that the onus lies on youth to sensitize the people against divisive politics being injected into the polity thus vitiating the atmosphere with sinister objectives.
Besides vice president Omar Abdullah, those present in the meeting included provincial president Devender Singh Rana, Ajay Sadhotra, Surjeet Singh Salathia, Rattan Lal Gupta, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari, Abdul Gani Malik, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Jagjeevan Lal, Babu Rampaul, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Qazi Jalal Ud Din, Brij Mohan Sharma, S T S Wazir, Dr Chaman Lal Bhagat, Haji Mohd Hussain, Master Noor Hussain, Bushan Lal Bhat, Ajaz Jan, Bimla Luthra, Vijay Laxami Dutta, Satwant Kour Dogra, Deepender Kour, Dr Gagan Bhagat, Jugal Mahajan, Pyare Lal Sharma, Swaran Lata, Sajjad Shaheen, Mohinder Singh, Anil Dhar, Ch Rahim Daad, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Pardeep Bali, Mehboob Iqbal, Dr Shamshad Shan, Prem Sagar Aziz, Sunil Verma, K K Bakashi, Romy Khajuria, Sham Nariyan Mehta, Vijay Lochan, Abdul Gani Teli, Th Yash-Vardan Singh, Naresh Bittu, Dr Gaffor Ahmed, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, Ch Naseem Liaquat, S S Bunty, Reeta Gupta, Dilshad Malik, G H Malik, Nar Singh, Ch Arshad, Som Nath Khajuria, Mohinder Gupta, Ashok Singh Manhas, Shama Akhter, Amresh Sharma and others.