SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Wednesday that restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will not end militancy without the active support of the people.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah remarked, “Even if statehood is restored, will militancy end here? Those claiming it’s over should look at the recent incidents.” He referred to the recent martyrdom of two soldiers in an IED blast to emphasise that militancy remains a persistent issue.
Abdullah called for greater public cooperation and peace to address issues like unemployment. “Our children are unemployed. We need peace to address these issues,” he added.
On the INDIA bloc and the recent Delhi Assembly elections, Abdullah commented that a pre-poll alliance between the AAP and Congress could have altered the outcome. He stressed the need for the bloc to have deeper discussions on election strategy. (KNO)
