SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President, Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that opportunistic politicians pose a bigger threat to the historical individuality & cultural uniqueness of Jammu and Kashmir.
While addressing party workers and functionaries from Sangrama constituency at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah said that people have recognized the true face of these opportunists, who behind their deceptive facades are working towards dividing our voice and strength, Dr Farooq said.
“They know that they cannot stand the test of democracy. Whenever elections are held, people will teach them a lesson. How long can they run away from facing people? One or the other day they have to face them. However I’m sure that people won’t allow them to play with their honour and dignity,” he said.
Stressing on the importance of maintaining unity in the ongoing struggle for restoration of J&K’s rights, Dr Farooq said, “I see no way of achieving anything in J&K without a lasting unity between different sections of our society. Unity in diversity must be our creed to last for all times and under all circumstances, otherwise there is no end in sight to our common problems in the shape of poverty, unemployment.”
Srinagar: National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abullah Saturday asked the government to stop ‘harassing’ people in Poonch for their failures.
He said innocent people should not be harassed during the operation that has been started in Poonch district of Jammu region.
Pertinently, five Indian soldiers were killed in a militant attack in Poonch two days back. After the attack government forces have launched a massive search operation.
Farooq Abdullah after offering Eid prayers at Hazratbal Srinagar told reporters that innocent people are being arrested and then tortured. “It is their (govt’s) fault. Don’t arrest innocent people in Poonch. It should be stopped,” he said.
In response to a question, Farooq Abdullah expressed regret for not allowing Eid prayers at historic Jamia Masjid.
“It shouldn’t have happened at first place. Even Mirwaiz Umar Farooq should be released and allowed to give sermons from the pulpit so that people can benefit from his sermons,” Farooq Abdullah said. [KNT]
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Sunday asked people to unite against the divisive forces, trying to disenfranchise people of their identity, land and resources.
Farooq Abdullah was addressing party functionaries in a commemorative function held at Khannabal, Anantnag on the 8th death anniversary of the party veteran Khawaja Abdul Gani Shah Veeri.
Dr Farooq said, “I see no way of achieving anything in JK without a lasting unity between different sections of our society. Unity in diversity must be our creed to last for all times and under all circumstances, otherwise there is no end in sight to our common problems in the shape of poverty, unemployment.”
He said that NC’s political vision is etched with the welfare of people and protecting the political, social and cultural interests of the diverse sections of JK’s society from all regions and religions, adding, “They might try to foist more political parties on the people through clandestine and covert machinations to fragment our voice. We all should be cautious of such trojan horses meant to weaken us internally and to launch an assault on our resolve to fight for JK’s political dignity and rights.”
“National Conference has rendered innumerable sacrifices to fight for the unity, integrity and dignity of Jammu and Kashmir and will continue to thwart all attempts to erode our unique individuality both cultural and political. We will fight against all ploys; the battle we are fighting requires us to remain,” he added.
SRINAGAR: National Conference President and Member of the Parliament from Srinagar, Dr Farooq Abdullah has asked the Lieutenant Governor administration to reconsider shifting of DIET and JK-NCERT offices to the Government Boys High School premises in Sonwar.
According to a press note, Consequent to meeting a delegation of aggrieved locals led by the In Charge Constituency, Lal Chowk Ahsan Pardesi, Dr Farooq Abdullah wrote to the LG Sinha, asking him to reconsider the decision in view of the searing resentment from the locals.
“The delegation of locals from Indiranagar, Sonwar and Batwara met me yesterday at our Party Headquarters in Srinagar. It was brought to my notice that the offices of DIET and J&K SCERT are being shifted by the Education Department to the Government Boys High School premises, Sonwar Srinagar. It was stated that shifting of the said offices will not only hamper the academic as well as extracurricular activities of the students there, but is also going to affect the upgradation of the school to the Higher Secondary level,” the letter reads.
He further noted, “In addition to the above, the main cause of resentment by the locals against this decision of the government seems their apprehension that the ground of the said school, which is being used as a play field by the youth of the area since last fifty years, will not be available to them anymore for sports activities.”
Seeking immediate intervention of the LG into the issue, he said that the decision if implemented will have a negative impact on the overall psyche of the youngsters.
SRINAGAR: At a rally organised by the Panthers Party in Udhampur, National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said that nobody can break their unity and they have decided that they will either safeguard the future of Jammu and Kashmir or will die in the struggle for safeguarding it.
Addressing a rally organised by the Panthers Party in Udhampur, Dr Farooq Abdullah hinted at a broader political alliance in Jammu and Kashmir Kashmir. “Nobody will break our unity whether he will drop from the sky or surface from the earth. We have decided that we will either safeguard its future or will die in that struggle,” he said.
The NC leader said that they have made a commitment that they will live and die for the people.
Asking people to strengthen the hands of Panthers Party president and former minister Harshdev Singh, Dr Farooq said that attempts were made in the past to break the Panthers Party. “These attempts are still on but you should stand up with Harshdev Singh and strengthen his hands,” he said.
The NC leader, who culminated his speech with slogans of Jai Hind, Jai Jammu, Jai Duggar, said that people shouldn’t desist from rendering sacrifices of their lives for restoring their dignity and forming their own government. “If you want to form your own government and restore your dignity, you shouldn’t desist from sacrificing your lives for that,” he said. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said that the Election Commission of India has assured them they will do something soon on their demand of holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to news agency KNO, the former CM of JK said that Election Commission assured the delegation that they will do something soon on their demand.
“They assured everyone that they will do something soon over the demand for elections in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir is without an elected Government since June 19, 2019 when BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led government, citing the deteriorating security situation in the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.
The two-year long delimitation process was completed on May 5, 2022 when the three-member panel headed by justice (retired) Ranjana Desai unveiled final electoral map of J&K. The voter revision process was also completed on November 25, 2022.
A delegation of regional political parties and national parties met the poll-body today in New Delhi and sought immediate restoration of democracy in the Union Territory.
The memorandum submitted by the parties today to the ECI states that the Panchayat elections and other PRI elections cannot be a substitute to legislative assembly elections and the government or for that matter the ECI cannot avoid and delay assembly elections on that ground.
SRINAGAR: The non-BJP all-party meeting in Jammu convened by Dr Farooq Abdullah has decided that they will meet the Election Commission for early elections in federally ruled Jammu and Kashmir. They said the Lt Governor-led dispensation does not represent the people of the erstwhile state.
Dr Farooq Abdullah addressing a one day workers convention at Chitragam in Shopian on September 5,2022
“There is uncertainty everywhere in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the right of State Assembly to take a call on imposition of property tax like issues,” Dr Farooq has told the meeting. “This is a temporary government. It is not a people’s government. It is a government of Delhi. People’s government is Assembly where members have to decide what is right and what is wrong.”
Dr Abdullah told reporters that religion was used to create division between Hindus and Muslims in the region. “We must not forget that Jammu and Kashmir is a secular state and will remain secular. All faiths in the region live shoulder-by-shoulder together. Jammu and Kashmir is the crown of India and with the grace of God, it will remain the Crown of India in future as well,” he told the reporters after the meeting was over.
Regretting the politics of division, Dr Abdullah asked: “The politics of fear and hate is not new. What will they do to 22-24 crore Muslims? Will they throw them in the sea or will they send them to China?”
Dr Abdullah called for the restoration of statehood and early elections. “We want Statehood to be restored and elections to be held. For the first time in the history of the nation, a proud State was reduced to a Union Territory (UT). It was a tragedy,” Dr Abdullah said. “We are an integral part of the nation. We belong to this nation, so why are they doing this to us?”
Insisting that there was an uncalled delay in starting the democratic process, Dr Abdullah said the administration is claiming an improvement in the situation. “The government claims the situation has improved in Jammu and Kashmir. A G-20 meeting is being planned in May. Why the delay in conducting Assembly elections?” he said.
Announcing the outcome of the meeting, Dr Abdullah said a delegation of Jammu and Kashmir leaders will leave for Delhi and apprise all the national political parties about the prevailing situation. “Uncertainty prevails in Jammu and Kashmir after the Union government changed its status and took over all its affairs,” Dr Abdullah said. “We hope they will raise our issues appropriately in the upcoming Parliament session.”
Lashing at the media, the NC President said the media lacks the guts to broadcast the ground realities. “I know the situation is adverse right now and you too are forced to succumb before the circumstances,” he said.
The meeting hosted by Dr Farooq Abdullah at his Bathandi residence was attended by National Panthers Party leader Harshdev Singh, Congress chief Viqar Rasool Wani, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Taranjit Singh Tony, CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami, Shiv Sena president Manish Sahwany and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Amrik Singh Reen.
SRINAGAR: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah has convened an All Party Meeting (APM) at his residence on Saturday, to discuss the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The APM will be held at his Bathindi residence at 3pm to discuss issues faced by the people of UT. All major political parties have been invited to this meeting excluding BJP.
According to reports, the meeting will be attended by senior leaders of all political parties and many important issues including the delay in holding the assembly elections in the UT, ongoing anti-encroachment drive, awarding of contract by JK Services Selection Board to a previously blacklisted agency (Aptech) and the imposition of property tax will be discussed in this meeting.
Dr Abdullah recently visited Mecca Madina in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and on his return offered Friday Congregational prayers at, Dargah, Hazratbal.
Dr Farooq said that he prayed for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and for the peace and prosperity of the country.
The APM will be presided over by Abdullah andthe senior leaders of major political parties are expected to be present in the meet.
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of the Parliament from Srinagar on Thursday said the narratives of peaceable calm, development and prosperity peddled by the government doesn’t reflect the reality on the ground.
This he said while addressing people at Habbak today. Party’s Provincial President (Kashmir) Nasir Aslam Wani was also present on the occasion.
Interacting with the workers, Dr Farooq said, “Three years on, there is little to show of a revitalised administration, increased job opportunities for our educated youth and infrastructure augmentation. There is pervasive rage among people, stemming from misgovernance, and unaccountability. Claims of changed ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir emanating from the government are a bundle of lies to whitewash the devastating impact of the GoI’s August 5, 2019 decisions on the people and economy of the erstwhile state.”
Dr Farooq said such claims are akin to running salt into the wounds of people of J&K, who are being denied democracy and not trusted with a popular government, whose democratic rights have been crippled and whose exclusive rights over land, jobs and natural resources stand liquidated.
Dr Farooq further said, “The hard earned gains of our governments during its successive governments in terms of bridging building people’s trust in government has received a setback. The anti-poor, anti-trader and anti-consumer policies being pursued by the incumbent administration have further increased the wedge between the administration and people.”
SRINAGAR: Reacting to Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir, JKNC MP Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that they (the government) will give a truncated statehood after elections.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will come up after assembly polls and that a call on the timing of elections will be taken by the Election Commission.
“I had clearly stated that statehood will be restored in Jammu and Kashmir after elections. Process of preparation of voters’ list is nearing completion in the UT. Now, the Election Commission has to take a call on elections,” Shah, in an exclusive interview with ANI, released on Tuesday, said.
To which Jammu and Kashmir’s former CM said that he thinks they (the government) don’t want to give statehood. “They will give truncated statehood after elections,” he added.
Abdullah also alleged that the motive behind the delimitation exercise, completed in UT, is to turn J-K into a Hindu majority state.
“They think that we are fools, but we are not. We know what their intention is, if this was not their intention, they would not have done delimitation as well, as the way they did. They want that it should be converted into a Hindu-majority state,” he added.
