We are not enemies of country: Dr Farooq

Baramulla, Oct 24: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that people of J&K have never said that they are not Indians and had chosen India in 1947 despite being a Muslim-majority region.
Addressing a party workers’ convention here north Kashmir, Dr Farooq said, “We never said we are not Indians. We have always reiterated that we joined Gandhi’s India, Nehru’s India.”
He said, “Jammu and Kashmir had chosen India at the time of Independence in 1947 despite being a Muslim-majority region.”
Dr Farooq said the people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted to live with dignity and enjoy their rights. “Region’s constitutional status and political future needs to be secured with collective efforts,” he added.
“We are not enemies of the country, but want to develop alongside the nation,” he said, urging helmsmen to change their approach and address the concerns of the people.
Referring to the Centre’s promise of restoring statehood, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured the people that statehood would be restored after delimitation and the Assembly elections, but the promise remained unfulfilled. “We are going through tough times and are walking on the double edged sword,” he said.
Dr Farooq said political divisions in Kashmir have weakened collective efforts. “My earnest appeal to people is to rise above party affiliations, religion and sectarian differences. J&K people need to stand on their own feet,” he added.
The NC president blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the developments that led to the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A. “The PDP joined hands with the BJP to form a government and the move changed the entire scenario in J&K,” he said, “People need to remember the PDP’s role in the political developments preceding the 2019 constitutional changes.”
Describing the abrogation of Article 370 and the removal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status as “unconstitutional,” he said the National Conference would continue its struggle for restoration. “We have to hold a single rope,” he said.
Dr Farooq expressed concern over what he described as a lack of historical awareness among the younger generation, saying many young people remain preoccupied with mobile phones and entertainment without understanding the region’s past.
Revisiting the events of 1947, he said Jammu and Kashmir had opted for India despite its Muslim-majority population and urged young people to learn about the circumstances surrounding accession and the fighting in Baramulla.
He said the younger generation needed to understand the different phases through which Jammu and Kashmir had passed to appreciate the importance of its political rights. (KNO)