SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the Union Government must take “serious and meaningful” measures to restore people’s trust in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that New Delhi would eventually have to restore the region’s special position.
Calling the Centre’s August 5, 2019 decisions a “major mistake”, Abdullah said the sooner the government rectified it, the better it would be for the unity, integrity and democratic system of the country.
“The Centre will eventually have to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s special position, and the National Conference will continue its struggle for this demand until it is achieved,” he said.
Abdullah said the party would continue to raise the issue of restoration of J&K’s constitutional and democratic rights in the Assembly, Parliament and other appropriate forums.
He also criticised the continued Union Territory status of Jammu and Kashmir, saying people had voted for an elected government to run the affairs of the region and address their problems.
Although elections had been held, he said, the elected government had remained deprived of “full powers”, which he described as contrary to democratic, constitutional and moral principles.
“The people had given a mandate through their votes to an elected government to run the affairs of the region and address their problems and difficulties. However, New Delhi has imposed an undemocratic system over the elected government,” Abdullah said.
He said the demand for restoration of statehood was aimed at enabling the Jammu and Kashmir government to function more effectively and reduce the difficulties faced by people in their day-to-day lives.
Abdullah, however, made a distinction between the two demands, saying that seeking statehood did not mean that the National Conference had abandoned its demand for restoration of special status.
“Our party will continue, under all circumstances, to struggle for restoration of the constitutional rights that the people of Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed under the Constitution of India. We will not hesitate to make any sacrifice for this cause,” he said.
The National Conference president said the prevailing situation had created a sense of alienation, disappointment and distrust among the people and urged the Centre to take steps to address it.
He said that despite challenges and constraints, the National Conference government was making efforts to provide relief to people, strengthen infrastructure and ensure delivery of essential services.
He also said party legislators were regularly available in their constituencies to hear public grievances and pursue their resolution.
Abdullah reiterated that safeguarding the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir remained the National Conference’s foremost priority.
