KL Report
SRINAGAR
National Conference President, Dr Farooq Abdullah reiterated his party’s commitment on Saturday to uphold Article 370 and continue to fight for Autonomy while transforming the state with landmark development and economic growth.
Dr Abdullah was addressing a party workers’ meeting at NC Headquarters at Nawa-e-Subh Complex in Srinagar.
He said that NC has always aspired for the appropriate resolution of the political issue and believes that NC’s Autonomy document is the best possible solution. “National Conference has defended the special identity of J&K since 1947 and will continue to safeguard Article 370 for all times to come,” he said.
Terming communal and divisive forces as the enemies of the country, Dr Abdullah said that his party has always been an advocate of friendly and peaceful relations between India and Pakistan. “There is a need to protect the secular fabric of India at a time when there is a concerted effort to polarize the nation along religious lines by those who believe in the politics of hate and division,” he told the party workers.
He said that it was a recorded fact that National Conference had repeatedly asked the NDA government to consider and act on the Autonomy document so that the political issue in J&K could be resolved to the ultimate benefit of the people of the state. “However, despite repeated proposals at the highest levels NDA refused to consider the Autonomy document and chose to summarily ignore it,” he said. “Now the same party is out to launch an assault on Article 370 and dilute the State’s special status. However, National Conference will never allow this to happen.”
Dr Abdullah said that it was unfortunate that his party’s opponents in the state, who speak about talking on behalf of Indian Muslims, have ironically chosen to join hands with those who have inflicted the most grievous wounds on the secular fabric of this country. “How will the ink-pot brigade muster the courage to speak on behalf of the Muslims of India when they have been unable to show the courage to speak on behalf of their own people first? Such ridiculous statements will not help our opponents and they should know that their nexus with BJP and Modi is a historic act of insensitivity and opportunism that the people of this state will never forget,” he said.
