SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that the just concluded Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir were “damn difficult” and that the upcoming Chief Minister will have to wear a crown of thorns given huge responsibilities.
“The Assembly polls were damn difficult for the National Conference. All powers had united against us. But people stood with us and gave us a majority,” Farooq told reporters at his Gupkar residence. He said that the upcoming Chief Minister will have to wear a “crown of thorns” given the huge responsibilities on his shoulders. “The road ahead is very tough but we have to walk over it,” he said.
On BJP winning the majority of seats in Jammu, the NC chief said like the then Governor General of Pakistan, late Muhammad Ali Jinnah thought once that Kashmir was in his pocket, BJP has the same belief about Jammu. “It is up to Jammu people now whether they want to remain in BJP’s pocket or join the fight for dignity,” he said.
“Jammu people ignored NC but NC didn’t ignore them, and the party will show Kashmir and Jammu are of equal importance. Jammu is as dear to us as Kashmir is. I hope people of Jammu understand how dangerous the BJP is for them,” he added.
He said the Jammu areas where people voted for BJP lack proper roads. About elections that gave a majority to NC, Farooq said “People stood against all odds and defeated the designs. Now it is our responsibility to serve people back.”
About the swearing in ceremony, he said INDIA alliance leaders have to come for a meeting after which there will be swearing in ceremony. “We have invited many leaders including Sonia Gandhi, former PM Devi Goda and other dignitaries, but we have to meet first.”
He further informed, “The NC legislature party is meeting tomorrow, and we will also meet alliance partners. After that we will go to Rajbhawan to stake a claim on the government.”
Farooq Abdullah said he would like to see his son Omar as the CM of Jammu and Kashmir. “But final decision will be taken by the Legislature party and the alliance partner,” he said.
He said the huge responsibility on the shoulders of NC leaders is to pull out the JK from the mess it has been plunged into for the past ten years. On nomination of five MLAs reportedly by the LG Manoj Sinha, Farooq said he (LG) can’t do it as it will be unconstitutional. “If he still does, we will challenge it in the court of law,” he said.
NC got a huge mandate of 42 seats while as reports suggest that six legislators who fought independently in Jammu will also join the party shortly. BJP swept Jammu by bagging 29 seats. (KNO)