Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Aug 6: National Conference (NC) president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that opposition parties have always stood with the restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir. He expressed hope that they will continue to do so.
Speaking to reporters after the party workers’ meeting in Pahalgam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Dr Farooq Abdullah said, “The hardships of our people have only multiplied since 2015 and restoring statehood is not just a political necessity—it is about restoring dignity, rights, and faith in the democratic process.”
The NC chief said he will raise the issue once again in a crucial meeting of opposition leaders in New Delhi, scheduled for August 7 (Thursday). “The opposition has always stood with the people of J&K. Tomorrow, I will remind them that our struggle is far from over, and we need their continued support,” he said.
Dr Farooq expressed hope regarding the Supreme Court hearing on August 8, which is set to deliberate on petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent reorganisation of the erstwhile state into Union Territories. “Let’s see what happens. The verdict is beyond our control, but we await it with hope,” he added.
The former CM blamed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the current turmoil and political uncertainty in the region. “The situation we are facing today is because of PDP’s decision in 2015 to form a government with the BJP. That alliance opened the doors for what ultimately led to the abrogation of Article 370, the bifurcation of the state, and the stripping away of our statehood,” he said.
Dr Abdullah further revealed that both the NC and the Congress had offered PDP unconditional support in 2015 to prevent the BJP from gaining power in the region. “Mufti Sahib had an offer from us with no strings attached. We wanted to preserve our special status, but PDP chose otherwise. That led to the current situation,” he said.
The public meeting in Pahalgam was organised by MLA Altaf Ahmad Wani and attended by senior NC leader and former parliamentarian Sharief Ud Din Shariq and MLA Shangus, Advocate Reyaz Ahmad Khan.
Earlier, Dr Farooq paid a condolence visit to the residence of veteran bureaucrat G A Peer, who recently passed away. The NC chief and party members offered Fatiha prayers for the departed soul.
