People of J&K deserve statehood: Dr Farooq

Srinagar, Jul 23: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday, made a passionate appeal for the restoration of full statehood, stressing that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are peaceful and deserve their constitutional rights.
Attending a program in New Delhi, Dr Farooq Abdullah said: “We are not the ones who raised weapons or threw stones. When they removed Article 370, what reason did they give? They said Kashmir was not progressing, that there was militancy. But who were the people who chose India over that side despite sharing a religious identity with them? We chose Gandhi’s India.”
“I wish the leaders of that time could rise from their graves and see what we’ve built, and where we are heading now. When will you speak up? When will you stand up for an India that belongs to everyone?”
“When will this media be free—to write and show what they believe the people need to see? Everything is controlled. How many people will even hear what we’ve said here today, everything is controlled?”
He also referred to the Emergency period under Indira Gandhi, drawing a parallel to the current situation:“They talk of Indira Gandhi’s Emergency—it lasted only 18 months. I just hope the message we are trying to send reaches Parliament, and that our elected leaders will fight for Indian democracy.”
Ending on a powerful note, he said: “We are not here to beg. We are here to demand our right—peacefully. Kashmir was made a testing ground, but other states may face the same future if we don’t stand together. That’s why we are here—to wake the nation up.” (KINS)