News Analysis India

Tag: Farooq Abdullah

  • India-Pakistan dialogue holds key to peace in Jammu and Kashmir: Farooq Abdullah

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Nothing can be achieved through threats, instead India and Pakistan have to hold talks for peace in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said on Monday.

    His remarks come a day after Union Minister Jitendra Singh said retrieving Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is next on the agenda.

    Singh at a programme in New Delhi had said the leadership which has the capacity and the will to abrogate Article 370, also has the capacity to retrieve PoJK from the illegal occupation of Pakistan.

    “I have been repeatedly saying that India and Pakistan have to talk (for peace in Jammu and Kashmir). Threats are being held that we will take this thing or that which cannot solve the issue,” Abdullah told reporters at the Digiana Ashram where he had gone to inquire about the health of Sikh leader Mahant Manjeet Singh.

    “When they can talk to China which entered our territory and set up villages, why cannot they talk to them (Pakistan) who are across the border,” he said.

    Insisting on dialogue between India and Pakistan, Abdullah said that “neither we have to give something nor can take anything. We have to work to set this line (Line of Control) right so that there is easy travel and trade on both sides”.

    Those people who are on the other side of the line are our own, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.

    The National Conference (NC) leader, while welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to repeal three contentious farm laws, said, “I am hopeful that they (Centre) will hear the voice of hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and restore statehood along with the eroded autonomy if they really want to address ‘Dil ki Doori and Dilli Ki Doori’.”

    In August 2019, the Centre had abrogated Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

    On India-Pakistan, Abdullah said when people on both sides come and go, the hatred will be replaced by love which will pave the way for peace in the region.

    To a question about the recent incidents of targeted killings by militants in Kashmir, he said, “This (militancy) is not a new thing for Jammu and Kashmir but once the hearts are won, the issue will be addressed.”

    On demands for restoration of statehood at a time when the Centre’s has accepted to repeal the farm laws, he said, “I am hopeful that they (BJP government) will hear the voice of the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

    “The prime minister had himself said he wanted to remove ‘Dil ki Doori and Dilli Ki Doori’ (while chairing an meeting of all parties of J&K in June). If he really wants to address the gap, it is imperative for them (government) to restore statehood and also return the autonomy which was eroded,” Abdullah said.

    On upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, “National Conference is ready for it even if it is declared today but claimed that BJP is not going to rule Jammu and Kashmir ever.”

    About BJP’s target of 50 plus seats to form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, “They can do it only if they tamper with voting machines or use police and army to cast bogus votes.”

    “One thing I want to make clear today is that BJP will never rule J&K. They will not even retain the number of seats which it won in the last assembly elections. They have to give answers to the people for their oppressive measures, growing unemployment and shortage of oxygen in hospitals during peak of COVID-19,” the Srinagar MP said.

    Today unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir is the highest in the country and inflation is touching the sky because of rising prices of petrol and diesel, he claimed and requested the government to bring fuel prices under control to provide relief to the people.

    Asked when he is expecting the report of the delimitation commission, which will be followed by elections according to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Abdullah said the final meeting is yet to be called.

    “How come they complete the report without having the final meeting with the five MPs from J&K (three NC and two BJP)? They have not called us yet,” he said.

    On the killing of four persons in the controversial encounter in the Hyderpora area of Srinagar on November 15, Abdullah said that “we want a judicial inquiry into the incident to unveil the truth”.

    “The administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident but the officer can come under pressure from the government. We do not have people who can stand up within the system and speak the truth,” he said.

    Earlier, interacting with Sikh leaders, Abdullah stressed on the need for unity and maintaining brotherhood and said “if we have to save J&K and this country, we need to stand united against the hatred and polarisation”.

  • NC seeks to expedite probe into Hyderpora encounter, rehabilitation of kin of those killed

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: The National Conference (NC) on Sunday sought to expedite the probe into the Hyderpora encounter in a transparent manner and the rehabilitation of the kin of those slain on a fast-track basis.

    An NC delegation led by its provincial president, Kashmir, Nasir Aslam Wani visited the families of deceased civilians Altaf Ahmed Dar and Mudassir Gul.

    Sharing the grief of the families, the delegation prayed for strength to them in their hour of loss and for eternal peace to the departed in the highest echelons of heaven.

    Wani also sought fast-tracking of the probe into the killings in a transparent manner and rehabilitation of the kin of the deceased on a fast-track basis.

    “The jinxed fate of our valley has snatched numerous innocents. There are several such untold stories where parents have lost their beloved children, daughters and sisters have lost their brothers, mothers their sons. Such incidents only leave a trail of suffering behind,” he said.

    The NC leader extended condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families on behalf of party president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah to the bereaved.

  • Gupkar Alliance writes to President, seeks judicial probe into Hyderpora encounter

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: The head of the six-party Gupkar Alliance on Article 370 restoration and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking a judicial probe into the Hyderpora encounter in which four persons including two businessmen from Srinagar were killed.

    “The tragic incident that took place at Hyderpora, Srinagar, on the evening of November 15 has evoked enormous public anger. In this unfortunate incident, three civilians got killed in suspicious circumstances,” reads the letter written by  Farooq Abdullah to the President on Thursday.

    “The incident calls for a time-bound judicial probe so that facts are unraveled and brought in the public domain,” reads the letter adding, “Needless to state that such unfortunate incidents widen the gulf between people of Jammu and Kashmir and the Government of India and, therefore, are to be avoided at any cost.”

    “We would remind Your Excellency that the administration of J&K is being run in the name of Your Excellency by the Lt. Governor acting as an agent and therefore, an onerous responsibility is placed on your Excellency to ensure that the rule of law prevails and the involved erring officials are brought to book and punished under law,” further reads the letter.

    According to police, four persons including a Pakistani militant Haider Bhai, his associate Amir Magray (from Ramban), OWG Dr Mudasir Gul and building owner Altaf Bhat were killed in the Hyderpora encounter.

    The families of Amir, Mudasir and Altaf contested the police claim and alleged that it was a staged encounter and their wards were innocent and not connected with militancy. They also demanded the return of the bodies.

    After the hue and cry and public anger, authorities handed over the bodies of Mudasir and Altaf to their families for burial last night while Amir’s body has not yet been handed over to his family.

    Police had on Tuesday evening buried the bodies of all four killed in the incident in a graveyard at Handwara in north Kashmir, about 100 km from Srinagar.

    Abdullah, the Lok Sabha MP, further informed the President in the letter of the practice of taking away bodies of the victims of such incidents and depriving their families of the right to organise their burial in accordance with religious practices.

    “Your Excellency, the right to decent burial is well recognized in the Constitution of India as well as in the international humanitarian law. The dead bodies cannot be denied the right to burial under any circumstances including the so-called law and order problem. The bereaved families likewise also have a right to organise burial of the dead body in accordance with their religious practices,” reads the letter.  

    “In the last few years such rights have been violated with impunity. In the present case (Hyderpora incident) these rights are being denied. We would request Your Excellency to intervene in the matter and ensure that the dead bodies are returned to their families so that they can perform their last rites in accordance with their respective religious practices,” reads the letter and termed it a matter of grave concern calling for urgent action.

  • ‘Volcano building up in Valley’: Kashmir parties on actions against youth for supporting Pakistan

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone on Tuesday said punitive actions against the Kashmiri youth will not help as they have not helped in the past as well.

    Referring to the registration of two FIRs against the medical students in the valley for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in the Sunday’s T20 international cricket match at Dubai, Lone said he “does not see anti-Indianism or pro-Pakistanism as an irreversible condition”.

    “I strongly disagree. If you think that they r not patriotic enough because they cheered for another team- u should have the courage and the belief to wean them back if u think they have gone patriotically astray. Punitive actions won’t help. Have not helped in the past either,” Lone said on Twitter.

    He was reacting to a tweet calling for the suspension of the students.

    The Peoples Conference chairman said, “We live in Kashmir and have to live with those who are ideologically opposed to us”.

    “But we’re confident that it is a game of narratives of discourses. And that we will win. We will convince all about the goodness of our ideology. We will prevail. But that that is if u allow us to,” he said.

    “We don’t see anti Indianism or pro-Pakistanism as an irreversible condition. It is at best a curable disease. Let us cure it. Allow us to cure it. Trust me. Punitive actions can worsen the disease,” he added in another tweet.

    Meanwhile, CPI (M) secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik termed the FIR as “unwarranted, unnecessary” and demanded immediate rollback of the charges against the students.

    “The past experiences reveal that such punitive actions have not helped in achieving any results nor it will have any desired outcome this time. Winning and losing is part of any game and in a democratic setup everybody has a choice to cheer up for his favourite team or a player,” Malik said.

    He said there are such examples where Indian fans gave standing ovation to Pakistan cricket team after its victory and same things happened with Pakistani crowds cheering up for the India team.

    In 1999, Chennai crowd gave a standing ovation to victorious Pakistan side.

    The crowd applauded the fact that Pakistan on that day was the better of the two sides.

    The Pakistani team reciprocated in kind to the crowd’s gesture, taking a victory lap around the ground.

    Nobody become anti-national if he supports one team or the other, he said.

    Malik urged upon J-K administration to immediately revoke the charges framed against the medical college students and help them to continue their degrees.

    A volcano has been building up in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Tuesday and expressed fears over what shape it would take when it erupted.

    Celebrations in the Valley over Pakistan’s win against India in the T-20 cricket world cup while Home Minister Amit Shah was visiting were meant to provoke the BJP, which had taken away Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, the erstwhile state’s former chief minister added.

    “They (those who celebrated the win) don’t have anything to do with them (Pakistanis) It was done to provoke the BJP. They were children and young boys and this should serve as an eye-opener for the BJP,” Abdullah said at a public meeting in Surankote in Poonch district.

    The BJP claims a new phase has started and militancy has finished but the situation is otherwise, Abdullah said.

    He said Shah was the one who announced the state’s special status under Article 370 being revoked and also witnessed the celebrations after the Pakistan’s cricket win on Sunday.

    “They (the BJP) took away Article 370 and Article 35A from us and claim not a single bullet was fired. How could bullets have been fired when you have put a soldier outside the door of every household? A volcano is building up even as they think they have silenced (the people).”

    “This volcano will erupt one day and god knows what will be its shape and size. They have to return Article 370 to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

    In August 2019, the government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 and bifurcated the state into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

    Addressing the rally, Abdullah also defended his advocacy for a dialogue between India and Pakistan and asked people to pray to the almighty for good sense to prevail in both the countries and for a way out in the larger interest of peace and development in the subcontinent.

    Taking a dig at the BJP-led government, he said its policies triggered farmer unrest in the country even as it was asked to send the three farm bills to the select committee in parliament.

    Both India and Pakistan, the former chief minister said, spend a major chunk of their revenues in preparing for war, impacting their poor.

    “The people of Jammu and Kashmir are sandwiched between the animosities of the two countries. The hostility is also the main reason to spread hatred and divide people on the name of Hindus and Muslims,” he said.

    In his view, political parties in both countries are winning elections in the name of Kashmir.

    “They (Pakistan) say Kashmir is our jugular vein and we have been suffering for 75 years. This side says this is our land and we will take back the land which is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. Nobody has asked the people of Jammu and Kashmir where we stand,” he said.

    Abdullah asked the people to be united and frustrate the designs of those bent on dividing them on communal lines.

    Mahatma Gandhi, he said, had seen a ray of hope in Kashmir.

    “We will become the beacon of that light once again and spread across the country by upholding unity and brotherhood. Any government which oppresses its people and fails to mitigate their sufferings is bound to vanish.”

    He also drew examples from the Ramayana and the Quran to make his point.

    “I don’t know whether I will live till that day but I am sure the time will come when the government indulging in atrocities will witness divine intervention,” Abdullah said.

    “The people want it to happen immediately but god has his own plans and so we have to keep patience.”

    He hit out at the Congress for their “studied silence” on the issue of the abrogation of Article 370.

    The Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered two cases against medical students under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in Sunday’s match.

    The cases have been registered against students in hostels at Srinagar’s Government Medical College in Karan Nagar and SKIMS Soura, officials said.

    PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday accused the Centre of resorting to “vindictive” action against Kashmiri youth and said such steps will “alienate them further” after cases were registered against some students here for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in a T20 international cricket match.

    Two cases have been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against medical students living in hostels in Government Medical College and SKIMS Soura.

    Reacting to it, the PDP president said the Centre should instead have tried to ascertain why the educated youth choose to identify with Pakistan.

    “HMs (Union Home Minister Amit Shah) ‘Mann ki baat’ with Kashmiri youth started with slapping UAPA against medical students for celebrating Pakistan’s win. Instead of trying to ascertain why educated youth choose to identify with Pakistan, GOI resorting to vindictive actions. Such steps will alienate them further,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said on Twitter.

    Shah was on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir Youth at many places, including the students at these two hostels, celebrated Pakistan’s victory over arch-rivals India in the T20 played in Dubai on Sunday.

    Three engineering students from Kashmir were suspended by a college in Agra for allegedly posting a WhatsApp status praising Pakistan players after victory against India in a cricket match two days ago.

    Local leaders of the BJP youth wing have also lodged a complaint against them at the Jagdishpura police station.

    The students belonged to Raja Balwant Singh Engineering Technical Campus in Bichpuri.

    SP (City) Agra Vikas Kumar said police had received a complaint about it and will take action on the basis of the complaint.

    The college administration suspended the students on Monday.

    Dr Pankaj Gupta, director of administration and finance at the institute, said the students were suspended with immediate effect.

    “The students were studying under the Prime Minister Super Special Scheme. We have also apprised the PM office and AICTE of the students’ act. However, students have apologised,” Dr Gupta added.

    Meanwhile, local head of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Shailu Pandit, told reporters, “On Tuesday at 3 pm, I was informed by students of RBS Engineering College, Bichpuri, that there were three students who had raised slogans like ‘Bharat tere tukde honge’ and ‘Pakistan zindabad’. They also shared such posts on social media.”

    “After that, I along with youth BJP leader Gaurav Rajawat, reached the college campus and enquired about the activity,” said Pandit.

    Shailu said the college authorities told them that they have suspended three students.

    “Thereafter, I informed police and lodged a complaint against the students involved in the anti-national activity,” he said.

  • Would rather talk to Kashmir’s youth for development: Shah on NC chief seeking talks with Pakistan

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday hit out at National Conference president Farooq Abdullah for seeking talks with Pakistan, saying the government would rather talk to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir for making it the most developed in the country.

    The home minister, who is on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir — his first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 — remotely inaugurated several development projects and laid the foundation stone of some.

    “I read in newspapers that Farooq Abdullah has suggested that the government should talk to Pakistan. He has a right to his opinion but we would rather talk to the Kashmiri youth,” Shah said while addressing a function at the SKICC here.

    “The repealing of Article 370 had only one intention — to put Kashmir, Jammu and newly created Ladakh (Union Territory) on the path of development. You will see the fruits of our efforts by 2024,” he said.

    The article, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated in August 2019 and the state was bifurcated into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

    Shah inaugurated a 500-bed hospital at Bemina, completed at a cost of Rs 115 crore, laid the foundation stone for the Handwara Medical College, a Rs 46-crore steel girder bridge over the Ferozepur Nallah in Baramulla district and road projects worth Rs 4,000 crore, among others.

    The home minister, who is on his Jammu and Kashmir visit’s third day, said that those who advocate talks with Islamabad and separatists should be asked what has Pakistan done in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

    “Compare the development between this side and PoK. Do they have electricity, roads, healthcare and toilets. There is nothing (on the other side). You (Kashmiris) have the same rights as any other Indian,” he said.

    Without naming the Congress, the National Conference and the Peoples’ Democratic Party, he said while only three medical colleges were set up by the “three families which have ruled Jammu and Kashmir”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured seven new medical colleges and these are coming up.

    “Earlier, 500 youths could become doctors. Now 2,000 youths can become doctors from these new medical colleges. Nobody will need to go to Pakistan to study medicine,” he said.

    Shah said the schemes and the plans of the Modi government will ensure that Jammu and Kashmir will be the most developed province of the country.

    He sought the cooperation of the people to realise this dream.

    “It is only the youth of Jammu and Kashmir who can work towards achieving this goal,” he said.

    Asserting that the government is aiming to wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and put an end to civilian killings, Shah said nobody would be allowed to disrupt peace and development in the Union Territory, which has a special place in Prime Minister Modi’s heart.

    Defending the curbs on internet services and imposition of curfew in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370, he said that “some people would have misled the masses. Who would have been killed? The Kashmiri youth. We know how heavy the coffin of a young son is for an old man”.

    He said that 40,000 people have been killed in Kashmir in violence and it should stop now.

    “This many people do not die even in wars. We have to come back and take Kashmir to new heights of development,” he said.

    The minister said Rs 12,000 crore worth of investment has already come to the Union Territory and the government aims at a total of Rs 51,000 crore by the end of 2022 to provide five lakh jobs to the local youth.

    Shah said “three families” are answerable to the people for their failure to develop Jammu and Kashmir over the past seven decades.

    “The new phase of development under the leadership of Modi has started in J&K but attempts are being made by inimical elements to create hurdles. I have come here to assure you that nobody will be able to create a hurdle and disrupt peace and development,” Shah said.

    He said a new phase of development has started and this cannot be stopped by anyone.

    Listing various steps taken by the government since the formation of the BJP government at the Centre, Shah said five lakh jobs are being created in Jammu and Kashmir, while 20,000 people have been provided government jobs in the past two years.

    “The three families used to say who will come and invest in J&K. In just six months after announcing a new industrial policy, we have got an investment of Rs 7,000 crore in Jammu and Rs 6,000 crore in Kashmir and are looking forward to an investment of Rs 50,000 crore by the end of 2022, the minister said.

    Targeting the “three families”, he said they were asking what the government is going to give to Jammu and Kashmir.

    “We have a long list of what we have given to J&K and the people know it very well but the people are demanding an answer from them as to what they have given to J&K despite ruling the erstwhile state for the past seven decades. Have you thought of anyone else other than your own family members?” Shah asked.

  • Amit Shah’s Jammu and Kashmir visit was necessary in aftermath of recent killings: Farooq Abdullah

    By PTI

    JAMMU: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir was imperative in the backdrop of the recent targeted killings of civilians that have triggered panic among the minorities and non-local labourers who have started fleeing the valley.

    The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, however, questioned the claim of the BJP that militancy has been wiped out from the Union Territory.

    “Jammu and Kashmir is under the direct rule of the Centre and the emerging situation demanded his (Shah’s) visit, which was imperative. He has come and people have high hopes that this (targeted attacks) will end and he will be able to provide security to them,” he said.

    Eleven civilians, including two teachers, a pharmacy owner and five non-local labourers, have been killed by militants in separate attacks in the valley this month.

    Speaking in Rajouri district on the first day of his three-day tour of the Pir Panchal region, Abdullah said many in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are claiming that militancy has been finished and the borders have been sealed in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “If the claim is true, one wonders how they (militants) come and carry out the attacks,” he added.

    The NC leader said 900 youngsters, who were accused of stone-pelting in the past, have been arrested ahead of the home minister’s visit to the Union Territory.

    “Will you get peace by arresting the youngsters? Your policies are not favourable to Jammu and Kashmir and the fact of the matter is that you are polarising people and creating a big danger for the country with an eye on the upcoming election in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

    Abdullah said it is better for the BJP to lose the Uttar Pradesh polls rather than winning the election by “spreading hatred and dividing communities”.

    He said nobody is willing to come to Kashmir in view of the emerging situation that has led to the migration of labourers and Kashmiri Pandits who had got jobs under the prime minister’s package here.

    “They are seeking investors but who will come to invest under the present situation? I do not see any development happening in Jammu and Kashmir (post the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019). They (Centre) promised 50,000 jobs but where did these jobs go? Inflation has broken the backbone of the poor,” the former chief minister said.

    He urged the government to give salaries to the Kashmiri Pandits who have returned to Jammu out of fear.

    Referring to the all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Abdullah said no concrete step was taken to remove “Dilli ki Doori and Dil Ki Doori” as promised by him.

    “Political prisoners are still in jails, which is very unfortunate. They (Centre) should keep the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

  • We can never live in peace, unless talks are held with Pakistan: Farooq Abdullah

    By PTI

    JAMMU: National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Thursday batted strongly for talks with Pakistan and said “unless you do not talk to Pakistan, we can never live in peace in J&K”.

    He said that if there would have been friendship between India and Pakistan, people would have come here (in Jammu and Kashmir) to eat and drink tea from Sialkot (Pakistan).

    “We would have gone there (Sialkot). In the past, this was happening. People used to come in trains before Independence”, Abdullah said “I confidently say, even today, unless you (India) don’t talk to Pakistan and shake hands of friendship with each other, we can never live in peace, never, take it from me in writing”, he said while addressing a party meeting here.

    He said that wars have taken place between Indian and Pakistan.

    “Only the poor got killed in these four wars. In future war, this will happen again. Both have nuclear bombs. It will be more disastrous,” Abdullah added.

    He said that if there is friendship with Pakistan, the money spent on planes and weapons will be given to farmers and the poor to remove their poverty.

    “See, we have reached 101 rank in the global hunger index. We have gone down to Somalia”, Abdullah added.

  • Farooq Abdullah questions claims of peace, development in Jammu and Kashmir

    By PTI

    JAMMU: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the targeted killings in Kashmir and said it should give an answer to the people over the claims of restoration of peace in the valley.

    He also said that the National Conference was never a pro-Pakistan party and always worked for the betterment of all, irrespective of their caste, creed and religion.

    “They (BJP) used to say after abrogation of Article 370 (in August 2019) that they have restored peace in J&K Where is the promised peace and development? Give answers to the people,” Abdullah said addressing party workers in Ramban district.

    Eleven civilians, including two teachers, a pharmacy owner and five non-local labourers, were killed in targeted attacks by terrorists in different parts of the Kashmir valley this month.

    Without naming the BJP or the central government, the former chief minister said the recent killings have shattered all the claims made in the aftermath of the August 5, 2019 development.

    “They are talking about ‘Ram Rajya’ but the fact is that they do not know anything about it. In ‘Ram Rajya’, there is no discrimination and all the people whether Muslims, Hindus, Sikh or Christians are treated equally,” he said.

    Referring to the statement of former prime minister A B Vajpayee “you can change friends but not neighbours”, Abdullah said friendship between India and Pakistan holds the key to peace in the region.

    However, he said the National Conference has never been a pro-Pakistan party.

    “The aim of National Conference is to serve the people of all faiths without any discrimination, provide better living to them, ensure they educate their children and bring laurels to J&K and the country,” he said.

    “Our enemies have always conspired against us but they never succeeded in the past nor will they succeed in future. We will live and die here,” the NC president said.

    He also slammed the central government for price hike of essential commodities and said the rates of petrol and diesel are touching the sky, making the lives of the commoners miserable.

  • Will continue to respect NC leaders Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah: BJP leader Devender Singh Rana

    By PTI

    JAMMU: After ending his long association with the National Conference (NC), the new entrant in the BJP, Devender Singh Rana, on Sunday said he will continue to respect former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah with whom he had worked for over two decades.

    He termed the civilian killings in Kashmir a conspiracy hatched by Pakistan to harm communal harmony and said that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, will defeat the nefarious designs of the neighboring country.

    “I have worked with (NC president) Farooq Abdullah and (vice president) Omar Abdullah for the past nearly 23 years. I have respect for both of them and it will continue,” Rana told reporters at the BJP headquarters where he was accorded a warm welcome after joining the party in Delhi on Monday.

    He was responding to a question about Omar Abdullah’s recent statement that Rana’s departure from the NC was more of a personal loss to him, rather than the party, as he had invested a lot in him.

    Rana, the younger brother of Union minister Jitendra Singh, had taken over the post of provincial president of the NC in 2011 after relinquishing his office as political advisor to the then chief minister Omar Abdullah.

    He, along with senior party colleague and former minister S S Slathia, joined the BJP in Delhi on Monday.

    “Politics brought me at a stage where I had to change the direction and way,” he said.

    In reply to a question about the recent targeted killings in the valley, the BJP leader said these are part of Pakistan’s conspiracy aimed at harming the communal harmony and brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “Terrorism has no place in civil society…Under the leadership of Modi and Shah, a befitting response will be given (to Pakistan). The people of Jammu and Kashmir will also stand united to defeat the designs of Pakistan and the forces who want to harm our brotherhood,” he said.

    The BJP leader said Jammu and Kashmir is an example of brotherhood and “we will join hands to uphold it and defeat the inimical elements who are out to harm it. They will get the answer and will be finished here”.

    Asked about his reaction to the ongoing operation in the forest areas of Poonch and Rajouri which left nine Army personnel dead in two separate encounters with terrorists over the past week, he said nobody has the right to speak on the security operations.

    “Our Army and other forces are strong enough to give a befitting response to their adversaries. I am fully confident that our Army, which is known for its professionalism around the globe, will achieve all the success as it cannot be defeated by anyone,” he said.

  • Kashmir will never become Pakistan, will remain part of India even if I am killed: Farooq Abdullah 

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Kashmir will never become Pakistan as we are a part of India and will remain so even if I am killed, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said here on Wednesday.

    Speaking at a condolence meeting for Supinder Kaur, the fallen principal of a government school in Eidgah who was shot dead by militants on October 7 at a Gurdwara here, Abdullah said the people of Kashmir have to be courageous and fight the killers together.

    “We have to fight these beasts. This (Kashmir) will never become Pakistan, remember it. We are a part of India and we will remain a part of India come what may. They cannot change it even if they shoot me,” Abdullah, the Member of Lok Sabha from Srinagar, said.

    Expressing grief over Kaur’s killing, he said the Sikh community did not leave the Kashmir valley in the 1990s when others left due to fear and appealed to them to not get scared now.

    We have to keep our morale high and be courageous, he said.

    “We all have to fight them together with courage and not be afraid. You (Sikhs) were the only community that remained here when everyone left. I am proud of the fact that you did not leave here. Killing a teacher who was teaching young students does not serve Islam. They were serving the devil,” he said.

    Talking to reporters outside the gurdwara, the NC president said: “They (militants) will never succeed and will fail in their plans. But, we all — Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians — have to stand together to fight them”.

    Abdullah said there is a “storm of hate” across India and communities –Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs — “are being divided”.

    “This divisive politics has to be stopped, otherwise India will cease to exist. If we have to save India, then we all have to live together and only then will it move forward,” he said.

    Asked about leader Devender Rana quitting the NC and joining the BJP, Abdullah said: “People come and go. It is not a big deal”.