SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah stated on Monday that his party played a crucial role in reviving the democratic process in the region after the tumultuous 1990s.
He highlighted that in the 1996 elections when few dared to participate, the JKNC took a bold step by entering the political arena to safeguard the people of Jammu and Kashmir during challenging times.
Dr Abdullah made these remarks while addressing a one-day party convention in Baran, Bhalwal, Nagrota.
The convention was organized by the party’s Additional General Secretary, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, and coordinated by the District President of Jammu Rural, Raghbir Singh Manhas. Notable attendees included Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Provincial Presidents Rattan Lal Gupta and Nasir Aslam Wani, party leaders Abdul Gani Malik, Babu Ram Pal, Surinder Choudhary, Sheikh Bashir, Ali Mohammad Dar, Altaf Ahmad Wani, YNC Provincial President Ajaz Jan, Bimla Luthra, AG Teli, Shamim Akhtar, Shamshaad Shan, and other party functionaries.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Farooq recalled the state of Jammu and Kashmir after 1990, a period of immense turmoil where the entire infrastructure was destroyed. Democracy and work culture were absent, bridges, government buildings, schools, and educational institutions lay in ruins, and people lived in fear.
He emphasised that the National Conference began the reconstruction of Jammu and Kashmir in 1996, tackling a scenario with no bridges, functioning institutions, accessible roads, or proper structures.
He highlighted their achievements, stating, “We not only gradually improved the environment but also built thousands of schools, colleges, bridges, and roads. We provided more than 150,000 government jobs within six years.”
Dr Farooq further noted their initiatives like Rehber e Taleem, Rehber e Ziraat, and on-the-spot DG recruitment for remote areas, emphasising their role in bringing the troubled state system back on track.
Dr Farooq then addressed those who talk about peace and development in the present. He criticized them for misleading people with mere words, stating that the National Conference’s contributions to the development of Jammu and Kashmir and its people remain unmatched.
He also criticised the misinformed propaganda surrounding Article 370, stating that it bestowed land ownership rights and benefits like free education upon the people. He further noted, “Article 370 was the legacy of Maharaja Hari Singh, which was undemocratically, unconstitutionally, and unilaterally taken away. Unfortunately, the people of Jammu bear the brunt of its abrogation.”
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