Srinagar, August 4 (KDC): Marking six years tomorrow since the abrogation of Article 370, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday likened the current Central government-appointed administration in Jammu and Kashmir to colonial rule and questioned the Centre’s delay in restoring statehood and conducting long-pending elections, including those to the Rajya Sabha.
Addressing reporters in Srinagar, the former Chief Minister criticised the Central government for not fulfilling its commitment to reinstate Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood after elections. “When are they going to return the statehood? They said that the minute you have elections and the government is formed, the statehood will be restored. What has happened to that?” Abdullah asked.
He also raised concern over the continued delay in holding elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir. “Now they are saying that they will hold elections in two vacant assembly seats, but what about elections to four seats in the Rajya Sabha? Why are they denying people the right to get to that House to speak of their problems?” he questioned.
Taking a dig at the BJP-led Central government’s plans to celebrate the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah said there was little ground for celebration. “They have nothing to celebrate. What did they do in six years to make this state better? Our highly educated boys and girls remain unemployed. Prices are rising into the sky. The poor are getting poorer, while the rich are getting richer. Is that what they have achieved?”
In a sharp critique of the current administrative set-up, Abdullah said, “His viceroy is sitting here in Raj Bhawan. There is a government (in J&K), but the viceroy is the main man. The time has come when this has to change. It is a democratic country.” Though he did not name anyone specifically, the remark was clearly aimed at Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Commenting on the broader peace situation in the J&K, Abdullah said that real peace could not be achieved through force alone. “I don’t see the peace coming. I think we are living in a fool’s paradise to think that peace will come overnight. We have a strong neighbour, whether it is China or Pakistan. Somehow, we have to find a way out. War is not a way out. Finally, you have to use a pen and discuss things. How does it hurt us?”
On the ongoing anti-militancy operation in Kulgam, Abdullah expressed concern about the continued incidents of violence. “I feel very sad the way we are going and about the future of this nation,” he said. Referring to recent government claims that terror camps had been eliminated, he remarked, “Before the Pahalgam attack, they said the camps were uprooted. Even during the recent war with the neighbour, they claimed to have knocked them out. Then how is Kulgam happening?”
Abdullah also reiterated that Article 370 was not the root cause of militancy, saying those who held power during its existence were themselves unable to prevent such incidents.
With inputs from ANI.
