Srinagar: Opposition National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah Sunday said if the Centre wanted to win the hearts of the people of Kashmir, it should restore the autonomy to the state.
“If we talk about the conditions of the accession and autonomy today, should we be labelled as traitors and anti- nationals? Is this the gift of our loyalty? We acceded to you (India) with love, but you did not understand our love and took away all that we had. Then you ask, why we do not embrace you.
“Remember this, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will not embrace you till you do not try to win the hearts of the people. And if you want to win our hearts, then return our autonomy to us,” he said here.
Abdullah was addressing a delegates’ session of his party at the Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium here, which took place after a gap of over 15 years.
During the session, Abdullah was re-elected as the NC president.
The veteran leader said former Union home minister P Chidambaram was right in saying that he believed the Centre must consider the areas in which autonomy could be given to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, he expressed regret over what the Congress party had done to the state’s autonomy over the years when it was in power at the Centre.
“I regret what the Congress has done as well. They have taken away all that was ours. So, please return them now. What are you waiting for?” he asked.
Abdullah also criticised Army chief General Bipin Rawat for his statements on Kashmir.
“The Centre thinks it can crush us with force. The general (Rawat) says the Army will continue to do its job.
Listen to me General sahab, how many will you kill…How many will you arrest and put behind bars…We will not be afraid.
Do not think that you will crush our emotions with guns…You cannot curb what we want,” he said.
The people of Kashmir were alive today and would be be alive tomorrow as well, the former chief minister said, adding, “Do not try to browbeat us. The issue of Kashmir is a political one and till you do not resolve this political issue, peace will not be established (in the state).” Attacking the Centre, he said, “You tell the Amarnath pilgrims not to spend a single penny on shopping in Kashmir as all of us are anti-nationals. We are not anti-national, you are anti-national because you have hurt our hearts. You (Centre) are not our providers, but our provider is god.” Maintaining that New Delhi had “used many a tactic” in the past to curb terrorism in the Valley, Abdullah said, it was now saying that militancy was alive in Kashmir because of terror-funding from Pakistan.
“Now they say that money comes from Pakistan and other countries to keep militancy alive here…They have even arrested (Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed) Salahuddin’s son and grandson,” he added.
The NC chief alleged that the Centre was sending money to Kashmir to wipe out his party from the state.
Criticising demonetisation and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the state, Abdullah said, “They (Centre) said demonetisation would put an end to militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, but it has increased.” On the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as the Centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir, Abdullah said talks were meaningless till there were statements calling for the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.
“Talks cannot happen under the barrel of the gun. They will happen when your (Centre’s) hearts are clean, when you will not say that you want to abrogate Article 370. Talks are meaningless till then,” he said.
Abdullah also lashed out at BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav for his statements on Kashmir without pin-pointing any of his remarks.
Meanwhile former chief minister Omar Abdullah requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct his ministers not to issue conflicting statements on the Kashmir issue.
Citing Union minister Jitendra Singhs remark that “there is no such things as the Kashmir issue”, Abdullah at a delegates session of the National Conference asked why the Centre appointed a special representative for a sustained dialogue then.
He said Dineshwar Sharma, the former Intelligence Bureau chief, who has been tasked with initiating talks with all stakeholders in Kashmir, “would be confused by now due to so many conflicting statements by several Union ministers”.
After the Centre named Sharma as its representative, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said “talks would be held with everyone and the Hurriyat would be included. However, Singh said there would be no talks with the Hurriyat.
“Then the MoS (Home) also said no talks would be held with the Hurriyat … This wont work. I have a request. Please stop issuing statements … the way you did note bandi (demonetisation) please do zuban bandi (keep silent), put a silencer on the ministers. Otherwise, the initiative would end before it even begins… which would be unfortunate for the state and its people,” he said.
The NC working president said perhaps the ministers of the central government do not listen to the prime minister.
“The prime minister spoke from Red Fort (on Independence Day) … He said Kashmirs problems can only be resolved by embracing Kashmiris. Wish the ministers had listened to your (PM) speech. It seems your cabinet colleagues were sleeping … None of them pondered over your speech,” he said.
On Chidambarams remark about greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the senior Congress leader was speaking “on the basis of his experience and he was speaking for himself not for his party”.
Autonomy for the state was not outside the purview of the Constitution, he said, adding that J-K “has acceded, not merged with India”.
“We have safeguarded our identity. We have our own Constitution, flag and you cannot compare us with other states,” he said.
Abdullah said if achieving anything under the Indian Constitution is anti-national, then he is a “proud anti- national”.
The NC working president claimed the situation in the state was worse than what it was in 2014.
“I am disappointed that the situation is not the same… The BJP an the PDP ruined this state. There is not a single place in the state where the people are not complaining and where they are not disappointed over their 2014 decision (of voting for the PDP-BJP),” he said.
Criticising the chief minister, Abdullah alleged that Mehboobas handling of the state has given birth to several militant commanders in the Valley.
The NC leader said the Kashmir issue cannot be resolved by economic packages or force, but it has to be resolved politically.
“The resolution of the issue cannot be purchased, neither it can be achieved through the barrel of gun. Dialogue is the only solution,” he said.
Rejuvenate Shimla Agreement, Lahore Declaration
National Conference Sunday passed a resolution and vowed to continue its fight for restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
The resolution was passed at a delegates session of the party here at Nawa-e-Subh complex. We continue to strive for the restoration of autonomy and restoration of Article 370 to its original, pristine form, while condemning those divisive voices who are opposed to the sovereign constitutional guarantees extended to the people of the state,” reads the resolution passed.
The resolution further read that the National Conference has always worked within the constitutional parameters that enshrine the state’s special status.
The Delegates session was held after 15 years in which a huge gathering was witnessed. NC president Farooq Abdullah and working president Omar Abdullah were also present at the delegates’ session of the party.
The party said the Kashmir issue should be solved through a sustained dialogue with both internal and external stakeholders, an apparent reference to separatists and Pakistan.
“The recently announced initiative through a representative of the Government of India should have clarity and seriousness of purpose to ensure the sanctity of the institution of dialogue is restored and upheld,” the party resolution said.
The party, while calling for a political initiative, urged both India and Pakistan to initiate a sustained, sustainable and comprehensive dialogue process to resolve all outstanding issues.
“It is for this purpose that our party wishes to see the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration to be rejuvenated to usher the entire subcontinent, especially Jammu and Kashmir, into an era of peace and stability,” it reads.
The resolution stated that Jammu and Kashmir is the “worst victim of animosity” between India and Pakistan and if the two countries work for mutual cooperation and peace, people of J&K would be the major benefit from it.
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