Jammu: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday lashed out at BJP over its claims of normalcy post-abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and said the killings will never stop until “justice” is served.
Abdullah, who is a Member of Parliament from Srinagar, said had the situation been improved on the ground, another innocent Kashmiri Pandit would not have been killed.
“It (killings) will never stop as long as there is no justice,” he told reporters in a brief interaction when asked about his reaction to the latest target killing of a Kashmiri Pandit in Shopian.
Puran Krishan Bhat was gunned down by terrorists on Saturday outside his ancestral house in the Chowdhary Gund area of the south Kashmir’s district, where he had gone to look after his orchards.
Abdullah did not elaborate what “justice” he was talking about, but he was apparently referring to the restoration of Article 370 abrogated by the Centre.
The NC chief had gone to Reasi to express condolences with his party colleague and former minister Jagjeevan Lal on the demise of his sister, and the family of former bureaucrat Babu Lal who had recently passed away.
“They were making noises that this (terrorism) was the result of Article 370. Today, there is no Article 370 but why are such killings taking place and who is responsible?” the former chief minister said.
The BJP-led government at the centre abrogated Article 370, providing special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated the erstwhile state into Union Territories on August 05, 2019.
The NC, along with four other parties including the PDP, are fighting for the restoration of the special status under the banner of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).
“If the situation had improved (as claimed by the BJP), this innocent Pandit would not have been killed. Where is the improved situation as I don’t see it,” he said. (With PTI inputs)
Situation on ground contrary to official claims: Omar Abdullah
Srinagar, Oct 17: National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Monday said the situation on ground zero in Jammu and Kashmir is “contrary” to the claims of the incumbent administration.
Abdullah’s remarks came at a meeting of the NC’s provincial committee, Kashmir, which was presided over by him at the party headquarters, Nawa-e-Subha, here.
“The situation on ground zero in Jammu and Kashmir is contrary to the claims of the incumbent administration. Here our party workers have an added responsibility to reach out to people and lend voice to the voiceless,” he said.
The meeting witnessed threadbare discussions on the challenges facing the party and the future course of action. Those who attended the meeting gave a detailed appraisal of the political activities underway in their respective areas. They raised various other issues of public importance as well.
Abdullah reiterated that the party will always work towards protecting and cherishing the political legacy of its founder, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, who was popularly known as Sher-e-Kashmir.
“Being the owners of that illuminating legacy, our party functionaries, workers and grassroots-level cadre have a greater responsibility in shouldering the worries of people and raising their issues at appropriate forums,” he said.
