SRINAGAR: National Conference chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday again called for talks with Pakistan for the sake of peace in the region, reported India Today.
Quoting Dr Farooq India Today reported that there cannot be peace in Jammu and Kashmir till Pakistan is roped in for talks.
Slamming the Centre again for scrapping Article 370, he said, “The Centre has been dishonest with Jammu & Kashmir. It scrapped articles 370 and 35A and made the region a Union Territory.” “If NC is brought to power, it will restore articles 370 and 35A,” he added.
“India should reinstate the neighbouring country’s rights that it had usurped.” He didn’t stop there. He said if Pakistan hadn’t been foolish in 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh, the last ruler of the princely state, would have kept Jammu and Kashmir independent. Abdullah on Saturday had claimed that the atmosphere in the valley is not “conducive for the return of Kashmiri Pandits”.
He said that Home Minister Amit Shah’s assurance of delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by elections and restoration of statehood, was proof of how farcical the Centre is. Amit Shah, during his Kashmir visit, on Saturday had said, “Why should we stop delimitation? Delimitation will happen, followed by elections and then restoration of statehood. I want to be friends with the Kashmiri youth.” This was Shah’s first visit to the Union Territory since the abrogation of Article 370.
Delimitation is redrawing of the boundaries of an assembly or Lok Sabha constituency. It is done to reflect the demographic changes in a state, Union Territory or at the national level. The delimitation exercise of J&K is likely to begin next year.
Farooq Abdullah also visited Shahdara Sharif shrine and prayed for peace and prosperity. Abdullah is currently on a visit to Rajouri and Poonch to meet his party’s workers and leaders, reported India Today.
