SRINAGAR: In a pointed response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statements, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah asserted that Jammu and Kashmir would have been part of Pakistan in 1947 if the NC had not played its pivotal role. He emphasised that the Muslim-majority region’s choice to align with India was due to the NC’s vision of an inclusive and secular future.
Speaking on the sidelines of an election rally in Udhampur in support of NC candidate Sunil Verma, Abdullah hit back at Modi’s accusation that the NC, Congress, and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were responsible for the “destruction” of Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah drew attention to key decisions made by previous governments, notably the release of terrorists in exchange for Rubaiya Sayeed in 1989 and the hijacked Indian Airlines flight in 1999, as pivotal moments that contributed to the growth of terrorism in the region.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir should be thankful that the NC was present during Partition,” Abdullah remarked. “Had we not been there, Jammu and Kashmir would have become part of Pakistan due to its Muslim-majority status. We chose the path of Gandhi and Nehru, believing in a vision of India where citizens of all faiths—Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Buddhists—are equals.”
In a direct challenge to the BJP-led government, Abdullah criticised the party’s handling of terrorism, noting that while they claim to have eradicated it, the ground reality in the once-peaceful Jammu region suggests otherwise. He also highlighted the lasting impact of decisions made under former Prime Ministers, such as the release of hardcore militants, and accused the current government of fostering an environment of division and hatred.
Referring to PM Modi’s criticism of his party, Abdullah asked, “Who released the terrorists in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 1999 in exchange for the hijacked plane, and for Rubaiya Sayeed in 1989? The same terrorists are now running terror operations from Pakistan. I had warned them at the time that these decisions would lead to our destruction, yet today they shift the blame onto us—NC and Congress.”
Abdullah also took aim at the BJP’s “One Nation, One Election” proposal, expressing doubts about the practicality and fairness of the plan. “When this idea is debated in Parliament, I want to know what will happen if a government collapses. Will it remain under President’s Rule until the next election? How will the federal structure be maintained?”
Abdullah voiced confidence that his party would win the upcoming assembly elections and dismissed the BJP’s claims of forming the next government in the region. “They are building castles in the air. Have they won the hearts of the people of Jammu? What have they done for the region?” he asked, raising concerns over inflation, land dispossession, and the preference given to non-local civil and police officers over experienced local officials.
Addressing the restoration of Article 370, which had been a contentious issue in the region, Abdullah distanced himself from recent remarks by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who suggested that Pakistan and the NC-Congress alliance were aligned in their stance. “I am not from Pakistan; I am a citizen of India,” Abdullah clarified.
He concluded by criticising the BJP for spreading hatred and division, echoing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s call for an end to what he termed the “shop of hatred.” Abdullah stated, “We are the crown of India, and the new dawn of love and unity will rise from here. We must sink the vehicle of hatred and flag off the vehicle of love.”
The former Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to restoring the historic practice of ‘Darbar Move,’ which had been discontinued by the current administration. The move, which ensured the government functioned six months each in Srinagar and Jammu, had long served as a symbolic bridge between the two regions of the Union Territory.
With the assembly elections on the horizon, Abdullah’s message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir was clear: the future of the region rests in their hands, and the NC remains committed to protecting their rights and fostering a united, secular India.
