Dr Farooq questions delay in J&K statehood restoration

Srinagar, Sep 2: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday questioned the Centre over the continuous delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the sequence of steps promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood completed but the final commitment remained unfulfilled.
Talking to reporters, Dr Farooq said, “People of Jammu and Kashmir had been assured that delimitation would be followed by elections and restoration of statehood. The delimitation has taken place and elections have also been conducted, yet there is still no clear timeline for the return of statehood.”
“The promise was that after delimitation there would be elections and then statehood. Delimitation has happened, elections have happened, but where is the statehood?” he said.
Dr Farooq questioned the rationale behind keeping Jammu and Kashmir without its full state status despite the completion of the processes cited by the Centre.
The NC chief also hit out at political parties and leaders who, he said, were now criticising the National Conference over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
He alleged that people asking questions were themselves responsible for the developments that led to the loss of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status.
He said criticism alone could not address the issues confronting the people and maintained that political leaders should focus on finding solutions rather than merely blaming one another.
“Those who are criticising the National Conference today are the same people who are responsible for snatching the special status of Jammu and Kashmir,” Dr Farooq said, adding that “it is easy to criticise, but it is difficult to work.”
Dr Farooq maintained that Jammu and Kashmir’s political future could not be addressed merely through assurances and urged New Delhi to fulfil the commitments made to the people, particularly with regard to restoration of statehood. (KNO)