News Analysis India

Tag: National conference

  • Congress leaders need to stand up to challenges instead of staying at homes: Farooq Abdullah

    By PTI
    JAMMU: Congress leaders need to stand up to the challenges being faced by the country and look into the problems of the people instead of “staying at their homes”, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said on Tuesday.

    Speaking at a Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) function here, he also said that the Congress has become “weak”.

    “My party (the National Conference) and his (Bhim Singh) party (JKNPP) are not there (in the rest of India). Congress is everywhere and they have to stand up to the challenge, look into the problems of the people, instead of staying at their homes, and counter the threat to our nation,” Abdullah said.

    Pointing towards Bhim Singh and his nephew and JKNPP chairman Harsh Dev Singh, the NC leader said that he “is sure that these lions will stand up to the challenge posed by the divisive forces” but added that the “Congress which is a national level party has become weak”.

    In an apparent reference to the abrogation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019, he said, “It is an attack on our honour” we will lost our land and our children will be left without jobs as people from outside will come and take the jobs”.

    “Maharaja Hari Singh introduced state subject laws to safeguard Dogra culture. If people came from outside, he was aware that his subjects are poor and cannot safeguard their land,” Abdullah said.

    He added that when people will come from outside, will they (the local youth of Jammu and Kashmir) get jobs in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, Punjab or Haryana.

    The former chief minister also cautioned people against attempts in the near future to garner support on the pretext that “Lord Ram is in danger”.

    The function was organised by the JKNPP to observe its 40th foundation day.

    JKNPP founder Bhim Singh was unanimously elected its president for the next three years.

    Praising Bhim Singh for his secular credentials, Abdullah said, “We have to strengthen our parties and stand united for our people and the country. We have to fight those powers who want to divide and break us.”

    Referring to the bifurcation of J&K into two union territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh — after abrogation of special status, he said, “You divided the regions but our hearts which are connected beat for each other. Why not I am a Muslim and he a Hindu” his voice is same as is mine and his god is also the same as mine.”

    Cautioning the people about future challenges and attacking the BJP, Abdullah said they are masters in spreading propaganda.

    “They propagated that they (Rohingya Muslims) will take over your land and will force you out. We clarified that nobody will come and live here without the permission of Delhi. They misled you. Tomorrow, they will come to sell Ram and they will say he (Ram) is in danger. They will not tell you that they are in danger and their chair is in danger,” he said.

    Abdullah said neither Ram nor Allah require votes.

    “We need votes. I am forewarning you to remain cautious, especially my sisters who go to the temples and mostly fear god,” he said           

    “We have to stand united to fight this tornado. We have to safeguard J&K, our unity and our honour. We have to sacrifice ourselves for this country and the people without thinking who is a Muslim, a Hindu or a Dogra. We are all one,” Abdullah said.

    Referring to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, he said who was aware that he will come and hoist the tricolor at the Red Fort.

    This was possible due to sacrifices, the NC leader said.

    “Nehru who laid the foundation of this country for 17 years, though he sent my father to jail, had done a lot for this country and I cannot forget it. His daughter Indira (Gandhi) made the country rich in food grains following which we started exporting it to the world which was not the case earlier when we used to beg food from America,” he said.

    He advised people not to forget the good deeds of anyone.

  • Ceasefire pact should act as stepping stone for resolving all impending issues: Omar

    India and Pakistan last month announced that ceasefire will be observed on the LoC and the International Border (IB).

  • Not campaigning in upcoming West Bengal polls: Farooq Abdullah

    By PTI
    JAMMU: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said he does not have time to campaign for the Trinamool Congress in the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections.

    He also asserted that India should abide by the United Nations charter on refugees in dealing with the Rohingya crisis.

    “I do not have time for campaigning,” Abdullah told reporters when asked if he would join West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee during the campaigning for the upcoming state polls.

    Responding to another question about a major drive launched by the government against illegally settled Rohingya Muslims in Jammu, the NC leader underlined, “We know the situation in their land. India is a signatory to the UN charter on refugees and we should abide by it and work on humanitarian grounds”.

    The Jammu and Kashmir administration had on Saturday sent 168 Rohingyas to a jail in Kathua district after they were found living illegally in Jammu city during a verification drive.

    Speaking at another function at his party headquarters to mark the International Women’s Day, Abdullah said nobody can come to the country without the approval of the Government of India.

    “Nobody can settle here without the Government of India’s permission,” he said, urging party workers to remain cautious against any false propaganda on the issue.

    His remarks come in the backdrop of the BJP accusing the National Conference (NC) and the Congress of settling foreign refugees, including Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals, in Jammu city.

    The Rohingyas are a Bengali-dialect speaking Muslim minority in Myanmar.

    Following persecution in their country, many of them entered India illegally through Bangladesh and took shelter in Jammu and other parts of the country.

    Many political parties and social organisations in Jammu have urged the Centre to take immediate steps for the deportation of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals, alleging that their presence is a “conspiracy to alter the demographic character” in the region and a “threat to peace”.

    More than 13,700 foreigners, including Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi nationals, are settled in Jammu and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir, where their population has increased by over 6,000 between 2008 and 2016, according to government data.

  • Omar targets Suvendhu Adhikari over ‘Bengal will become Kashmir’ remarks

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Sunday hit out at BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari for his remarks that West Bengal will become like Kashmir if the Trinamool Congress came back to power in the state.

    “But according to you BJP wallas Kashmir has become paradise after August 2019 so what’s wrong with West Bengal becoming Kashmir? Anyway, Bengalis love Kashmir & visit us in large numbers so we forgive you your stupid, tasteless comment,” Omar said in a tweet.

    The former J-K chief minister was reacting to Adhikari’s reported statement that West Bengal would become like Kashmir if the TMC returned to power in the assembly elections.

    Adhikari, a former TMC leader, is contesting against his former boss Mamata Banerjee from the Nandigram seat.

  • Farooq Abdullah advocates dialogue with Pakistan to end terrorism in J&K

    By PTI
    JAMMU: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday advocated dialogue with Pakistan to end terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, saying friendship holds the key to development in the region.

    “Terrorism is still prevalent (in Jammu and Kashmir) contrary to their (BJPs) claim that we have finished it. If we want to finish it, we have to talk with our neighbour,” Abdullah said.

    Talking to reporters during a visit to a market here, the former chief minister of the erstwhile state remembered former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s words “you can change your friends but not your neighbours” and said “either we grow friendship and prosper or continue the enmity, then there will be no prosperity”.

    He was responding to a question about the terrorist attack on police in Bhagat locality of Srinagar on February 19, which left two policemen dead.

    “This is the reality of the day. I appeal to the government to adopt the same approach as they had with China over the standoff in Ladakh and started withdrawal of its troops. The same is needed here to pull out J&K from this (terrorism),” he said.

    Abdullah said the world has shrunk and the country like rest of the world is fighting coronavirus.

    “We have to solve this issue as well.”

    Asked whether he is hopeful of success of the ongoing Indo-China talks, the NC leader said “the issue is big because this line is not defined and so there are differences between the two powerful countries”.

    “Both the countries need to sit and define this line (Line of Actual Control) so that the issue is settled forever. Both the countries are powerful and the key to development lies in the friendship,” he said.

    Responding to a question on increasing petrol prices, Abdullah said, “I want to request the government to review its decision and reverse the hike to allow the poor to live”.

    “I heard they are buying it (petrol) at Rs 30 per litre and if they are selling it at Rs 100 per litre to the people, it is wrong. Where the middle class that has a fixed income would go? They have to run the household, pay school fees of their children, and take care of the sick as well. It (the government) has pushed the whole country into the crisis and needs to act fast to set it (petrol prices) right,” he said.

    Asked about his party boycotting the delimitation commission meeting, Abdullah said “we have already said that what they have done on August 5 (2019) we have not accepted it. When we have not accepted that, how could we accept delimitation commission for J&K.”

    On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked the special status of J&K under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.

    “I myself (as chief minister) delayed the delimitation exercise because the delimitation was scheduled to take place in the country in 2026. What was the reason for carrying out the delimitation at this time? Why not they go for the exercise in the entire country instead of picking up only a few states? That is our issue,” he said, He added had they done it across the country, National Conference would have gladly joined the exercise but they have picked up J&K deliberately, therefore “we are not with it”.

    On the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal’s demand for imposition of ban on the use of ‘pheran’ (a loose gown used by Kashmiris during winter to keep themselves warm during winter) after the assailant who attacked police was caught on camera wearing the garment to hide his weapon, Abdullah said “pheran is the identity of Kashmiris and if somebody has misused it, why defame it?” “Without pheran, what can one do in minus 10 degrees Celsius? We hold the Kangri (fire pot) inside it. We don’t even have the electricity,” he said, adding Kashmiris have worn the ‘pheran’ even at the time when militancy was at its peak and “”we will never discard the pheran.

    He termed the attack on the policemen as tragic and said those behind it should be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law of the land.

    Earlier during the day, a group of Rashtriya Bajrang Dal activists staged an anti-Pakistan protest here over growing incidents of terror attacks and set ablaze the flag of the neighbouring country.

    The protesters demanded a ban on the ‘pheran’.

  • NC to challenge DDC chairperson polls in J-K’s Budgam

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: The National Conference on Saturday said it would mount a legal challenge against the election of District Development Council chairperson in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, accusing the administration of “murdering democracy” in the Union territory.

    NC vice-president Omar Abdullah said an independent candidate was made the chairman of District Development Council (DDC) despite his party having eight members, out of the total strength of 14, in the council.

    He added that his party also had the support of a member of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement, a part of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).

    “Talk about murdering democracy in J&K. I met 8 of our DDC members of Budgam district. There is at least 1 more alliance member of Javaid Mustafa Mir’s party so 9 out of a total strength of 14 & yet in an ‘election’ an independent member was made the chairman (sic),” he tweeted.

    Omar alleged that all this was done with the “active involvement” of the district administration which “issued blatant threats” about powers to detain people for two years.

    “Early next week we will challenge this undemocratic action in the courts of law,” he said in another tweet.

    The National Conference (NC) has already taken up the issue with State Election Commissioner K K Sharma.

    The party’s Member of Parliament Hasnain Masoodi had raised the issue of “unfair mode of selection” of DDC chairman Budgam with Sharma, terming the entire exercise a “clear violation of law and rules”.

    “It is the betrayal of people’s mandate.

    The mode and manner in which the entire exercise was conducted has already been brought to light by nine DDC members of Budgam district with the media,” he said.

    The group of nine elected DDC members from Budgam had held a protest here on Tuesday, demanding re-election for the post of chairperson.

    Earlier this week, Nazir Ahmad Khan – an independent DDC member — was elected as the chairperson, while Nazir Ahmad Jahara of NC was elected as the vice-chairperson of the council.

  • BJP repeating mistakes committed by Congress in 1984: National Conference

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: The National Conference has alleged that what Congress did in 1984 by toppling the then Farooq Abdullah government by using money power, the BJP is repeating the same in 2021 by manipulating the results of the recently-held District Development Council (DDC) chairmen elections. 

    While referring to the defections and cross-voting in the recently-held DDC chairmen elections, senior NC leader and MP Justice (retd) Hasnain Masoodi told The New Indian Express that the BJP is evidently and openly manipulating the DDC chairmen results.

    The six parties Gupkar Alliance, which had emerged as the single largest group with 102 out of 280 DDC seats, lost in Budgam district, where it had got a majority. In Shopian, where along with lone Congress member it was in a position to form DDC, it lost to Apni Party after defections and cross voting.

    Masoodi, who is an NC Lok Sabha MP from south Kashmir, said BJP is repeating the same mistakes of Congress from did in 1984.

    “The Congress engineered defections in NC to topple the then Farooq Abdullah government in 1984. But did that solve anything? Did that end the aspirations of people here,” he said.

    The Congress had toppled the then Farooq Abdullah government in 1984 with the help of 14 disgruntled NC legislators led by Farooq’s brother-in-law Ghulam Mohammad Shah, who was appointed as chief minister and his government lasted for about two years.

    Masoodi further stated that 1984 is the start of all bad things in J&K and “whatever ill Kashmir is facing today, it all started in 1984.” According to him, in 1984, people realised that democracy is a myth and New Delhi can change the mandate and undermine democracy on its own whim.

    “People lost faith in democracy because of 1984. If we get popular votes despite facing opposition and get a required number of seats, still there is no guarantee that through manipulative practice the mandate cannot be undermined,” Masoodi said.

    “They (BJP) are persuading and encouraging people to vote against the party and against the symbol on which he/she was elected. They won’t achieve anything from it. It is again a setback.”

    The NC MP said Congress could not achieve anything in 1984 except undermine democracy. “They ignited the fire and we are facing its consequences even today,” he said.

    In his speech in parliament, NC president and three-time former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah also alleged that BJP is repeating 1984. “I have seen it in 1984 when 14 of our people were purchased and a new government was formed. It lasted for two years and collapsed. Same thing is being repeated again today,” he said.

    The NC president alleged that democracy is being subverted as police and civil officials are attempting to manipulate the election results. “After successful conduct of DDC polls, the DCs and police officers are now attempting to manipulate the process,” Farooq had said in Lok Sabha.

  • NC to launch mass outreach campaign to galvanise party in J&K: Farooq Abdullah

    By PTI
    JAMMU: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said a mass outreach programme would be undertaken across Jammu and Kashmir to galvanise the party at the grassroots level.

    He exhorted the cadre across the union territory to remain steadfast in their resolve of serving people and strengthening bonds of inclusiveness.

    Addressing party functionaries and workers at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here, Abdullah said “All eyes are watching how National Conference has emerged as a big political force in Jammu and Kashmir in its own right.”

    He was referring to the recently held District Development Council elections, which saw the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) sweeping the polls by winning 110 seats.

    The NC is a constituent of the PAGD.

    The meeting reviewed the functioning of the party at district and block levels, especially in the wake of its performance in the recent elections, a party release said.

    Provincial President Devender Singh Rana and other senior party leaders were present on the occasion.

    Abdullah said the massive support despite numerous challenges is reflective of the deep faith of the people in the National Conference, which has met the challenges with courage and fortitude.

    “The strength of the party emanates from the people at ground zero and there is a need to channelise this support for the betterment of the people, irrespective of caste, creed, region or religion,” he said.

    “A big mass outreach would be undertaken across Jammu and Kashmir to galvanise the party at the grassroots level,” the NC chief said.

    Abdullah said the NC has all along cherished the great values of the pluralistic ethos that has actually been a binding force between the regions and religions.

    “This spirit has not only to be sustained but promoted in a big way to keep at bay the divisive forces,” he said.

    The former chief minister the people are the real fountain of power and the power is not to rule but to serve humanity.

    “This has been the core of our political philosophy,” he added.

    Abdullah complimented the people in general and the party cadre in particular for their commitment to the secular ethos and hoped that this glorious tradition will continue to inspire the generations.

    He said unity in diversity is the real strength of Jammu and Kashmir.

    “This is what has seen us overcome all the challenges.”

  • Farooq Abdullah requests PM Narendra Modi to restore 4G internet in Jammu & Kashmir

    By PTI
    JAMMU: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore 4G mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir as he highlighted various problems due to lack of the facility and the harsh winter in the Union Territory.

    He prayed for the success of the COVID-19 vaccine and urged people to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood at all costs for overall prosperity and development.

    “The prime minister is saying 5G is coming in India while we are deprived of 4G (mobile internet service). May he come and live here after leaving the chair and see how we are living under 2G (service),” Abdullah, the former chief minister of the erstwhile state, said at a book release function here.

    The 4G mobile internet service was snapped across Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 following revocation of special status and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories.

    While the service was restored in two districts, Udhampur in Jammu and Ganderbal in Kashmir, after over a year, it is still suspended in rest of the 18 districts.

    The well-attended function was organised by Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust to release the biography of its patron-in-chief Masud Ahmad Choudhary, a retired Additional Director General of Police and ex-vice chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (Rajouri).

    “Students are sitting in their homes and getting education through internet and the businessmen are also dependent on internet connectivity. My request to the prime minister is that if you are saying this place is on the path of development, give us 4G for the sake of god so that we too can benefit and our children move forward,” Abdullah said.

    He said attention is required to be given towards it.

    “There is a talk of Rs 28,000 crore package. First, let us know what happened to the earlier Rs 80,000 crore package and where the money had gone. See our condition and had there been no army, the Srinagar-Jammu national highway would have remained closed for one year,” the NC leader said referring to the restoration of the highway by Border Roads Organsiation (BRO), which constructed a bailey bridge near Kela Morh to restore traffic on the strategic highway after a portion of the road caved-in on January 10.

    Earlier this month, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had announced a new industrial development scheme (IDS) with a total outlay of Rs 28,400 crore to encourage new investment and to take industrial development to the block level.

    Abdullah said people in Kashmir are faced with a lot of problems amid sub-zero temperature.

    “What can I say about the problems we are facing in Kashmir where there is no electricity, petrol, diesel, kerosene oil and shortage of daily use food items. Jammu is the door to Kashmir and it is pathetic that former prime minister A B Vajpayee promised a rail link (between Kashmir and rest of the country) by 2007, which was revised to 2022 by this regime. Hope it would not extend to 2040 when I will be no more,” he said.

    Abdullah said he is advising his brother Mustafa Kamal not to travel by Jammu-Srinagar national highway in view of the lurking threat of shooting stones from the hillocks overlooking the highway from Udhampur onwards.

    “I am not doing any politics. This is the present day condition in J&K. Yesterday, I received the New Year greeting card from Delhi Chief Minister and five days back a friend’s letter from abroad dispatched in November last year. I telephoned him and requested him not to post any letter in future,” he said.

    He said the situation is no different in Jammu even as the present regime promised 24X7 electricity to consumers.

    “This is the condition of capital cities, god knows the condition of the people in village and far flung areas.”

    Referring to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the virus has brought the world to its knees and showed people power of the almighty.

    “People today are afraid of handshakes and hugging each other as thousands are still dying on a daily basis in various parts of the world. Vaccine has been found and only time will tell about its efficacy but I am praying for its success so that the situation gets normal,” he said.

    He, however, expressed surprise that some people were not adhering to the SOPs and moving around without masks, urging them not to lower their guard.

    Urging people to be courageous and never deviate from truth, Abdullah said education has the power to empower the people and make them distinguish between right and wrong.

    “Make yourself courageous which is possible when you receive education, both religious as well as worldly knowledge. Nothing will happen if you get only one of the two, innocents are being put inside jails and criminals are roaming freely. Why because we lack boldness?” he said.

    Abdullah said people must introspect and try to understand the religion that they practice.

    “No religion teaches hatred. The religion is not bad but it is the human who is bad,” he said, adding every religion teaches brotherhood and to live in harmony.

    “When we do not respect our religion, how will we respect the religion of others? He (god) is everywhere and in every shape. We are Muslims for namesake and are practically far away (from Islam). Till we become practical, we cannot change our destiny,” he said.

    Hailing the contribution of Choudhary for the upliftment of his community, he said Gujjars are still facing poverty and disease and need to be empowered economically and educationally.

    He urged the trust to translate the released Urdu biography of Choudhary into other languages, especially Hindi and said “they think Urdu is a language of Muslims but do not know this is not the Muslim’s language alone. This is one of the languages in the country.”

    “We will die but the language (Urdu) will remain. It is the identity of India,” Abdullah said.

  • Faultlines emerge in Gupkar Alliance as constituents trade barbs

    Express News Service
    SRI NAGAR: It has been over a month since the District Development Council (DDC) election results came out, but the Gupkar Alliance, which emerged as the single largest group post polls, is yet to convene a meeting to chart a roadmap for its declared goal of restoring Articles 370 and 35A. This lack of progress, combined with the People’s Conference allegations that National Conference fielded proxy candidates, indicates that fault lines have already appeared in the seven-party alliance. 

    The constituents – NC, PDP, Peoples Conference, ANC, CPM, CPI and JKPM – are yet to meet on charting declare ‘referendum’ on Article 370 restoration. The first ever DDC polls for 280 seats concluded on December 19, and the Gupkar Alliance had emerged as a single-largest group with 110 seats. Ever since then, only Mehbooba Mufti’s voice has been heard, with other leaders lying low. Be it government policies, eviction of people from forest areas or demanding inquiry into Lawaypora encounter, Mufti has been in the forefront, missing no opportunity to criticise the government. 

    The DDC polls had brought the internal bickering in the Alliance to the fore with the parties accusing each other of fielding proxy candidates. Many leaders had rebelled against the constituents, and had contested against the PAGD candidates. Influential Shia leader and Peoples Conference general Secretary Imran Reza Ansari in a letter to party president Sajjad Gani Lone accused the National Conference of fielding proxy candidates in Pattan, Sonawari and Kupwara Assembly constituencies in north Kashmir. He said that when he met Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, he was served a notice, but the Alliance was mum when NC delegations and CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami called on Sinha.

    Senior PDP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Fayaz Mir also accused the NC of fielding proxy candidates against the PAGD nominees in Kupwara district. He said the Gupkar Alliance leadership should have taken action against seat-sharing formula violators, but no action was taken.

    PDP accuses NC of violating agreementSenior PDP leader Fayaz Mir accused the NC of fielding proxy candidates against the PAGD nominees in Kupwara. He said the leadership should have taken action against the violators