Rajouri/Jammu: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said they will continue to knock at the Supreme Court’s door for the restoration of Article 370 as “it is linked with the honour of the people” of Jammu and Kashmir.
The former chief minister said the “frequent” terror attacks, especially in the peaceful Jammu region, contradicts the BJP-led government’s claim that “terrorism finished with the abrogation of Article 370” in August 2019.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an election rally in Budhal in support of party candidate Choudhary Javid, who is pitted against former minister and BJP candidate Choudhary Zulfikar Ali, Abdullah expressed confidence in his party forming the government with its coalition partner Congress after the elections.
Responding to a question on the BJP’s clear message that Article 370 has become history and nobody is going to restore it, Abdullah said they will knock the door of the Supreme Court till the constitutional provision is restored in the Union Territory.
“It (restoration of Article 370) is a legal battle because two earlier SC judgments by three-judge benches have made it clear that it is permanent and not a temporary provision. We will go to the top court again and again till we get it back. It is linked with the honour of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah said.
The NC leader said the BJP blamed them and the Article 370 for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and said the terror incidents, especially in the Jammu region, contradict their claims.
“I want to ask them that five years have passed since the abrogation of Article 370 but terror incidents are still killing people. Only yesterday, we had an encounter in the Kishtwar district,” he said.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister questioned the “silence” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the alleged rape of a scheduled caste woman, a sanitation worker at Ayodhya’s Ram temple, and said, “Is she not our sister and daughter? They say we protect the citizens but the fact is they only care for their chair.”
The woman had accused nine people of rape. According to her complaint lodged at Ayodhya’s Cantt police station, she was gang-raped on three different occasions between August 16 and 25.
On BJP’s claim that they will form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir with 10 independents from Kashmir, he said, “They are saying a lot but where do they get these winners from? Do they come from the sky?”
He said the NC-Congress alliance is moving smoothly and “we are sure of getting a majority to form the next government in J&K”.
Earlier, addressing a rally, Abdullah said the BJP is talking a lot about Article 370 but the reality is that they are “dishonouring” Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler who introduced land laws in Jammu and Kashmir in 1927, which later became part of Article 370 after Independence.
“Those who celebrated the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 by distributing sweets are rueing the decision today because they are losing their lands and their children are not getting jobs. The local officers are missing in the civil secretariat as people from outside were given top posts,” Abdullah claimed.
“The NC-Congress has come together to change the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir and end the 10-year-old misrule of the BJP. We have to fight the hatred spread by them by standing united and defeating their designs,” Abdullah said.
J&K elections about ‘karm’, not ‘dharm’: Farooq Abdullah
NC chief Farooq Abdullah on Monday made a strong appeal to the people urging them to unite and support its alliance with the Congress in the ongoing J&K polls, which he said is not about religion but action.
The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir emphasised the fight against the “forces” spreading hatred across the country, which he claimed are trying to weaken the nation to stay in power.
Addressing a rally in Surankote, Abdullah took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticising his remarks about the ‘mangalsutra’, which he said were made to incite hatred among the masses.
Campaigning during the Lok Sabha polls, Modi had alluded to Muslims to allege that the Congress plans to give people’s hard-earned money and valuables to “infiltrators” and “those who have more children” and would steal the “gold of mothers and sisters” if voted to power.
“Aaj yeh dharm ki baat nahin hai, yeh karm ki baat hai kyunki yeh badi jung hai nafrat ke khilaf (Today, it is not about religion but it is about action, because this is a big fight against hatred). It is a fight against those hate-spreading parties who want to divide India. Can we bury those parties that are spreading hatred in India?” Abdullah said.
Abdullah was accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi while hitting the campaign trail in support of the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance candidate Mohmmad Shahnawaz contesting the elections from Surankote assembly segment in the border district of Poonch.
“If today you want to end that hatred and bury those forces, then vote for the symbol of the hand and strengthen India, which belongs to all of us,” Abdullah said.
He further stressed the importance of the alliance’s success.
“This fight is against the hatred that the BJP and RSS are spreading throughout the country. They have tried to create conflicts between Hindus and Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, and Hindus and Christians just to hold onto power. But they are failing and their strategy is not working,” he said.
In a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his ‘mangalsutra’ remarks, Abdullah said, “He says Muslims have more children. Does he mean that if there are two houses, one should be given to a Muslim?
“He says they will snatch your mangalsutra and distribute it among themselves. These are the same people who cannot live without spreading hatred. If we want to end this hatred, we must unite and only then will it be possible,” he said.
Taking a pot-shot on BJP, Abdullah called on the need for unity.
“If we want to end this hatred, we must come together. This is why the National Conference and the Congress united. We realised that to oust these hate-filled parties, we must join hands and make sacrifices,” Abdullah said.
He also appealed for communal harmony, stating, “We all must unite and fight this battle together — Hindus, Muslims, Gujjars, Kashmiris, Shias and Sunnis. Today, it is not about religion. It is about action because this is a big fight against hatred.”
Abdullah quoted Gandhi, who said he intends to “shut down the shop of hatred and open a shop of love”.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir want to crush the vehicle of hatred and drive the vehicle of love throughout India. This is our action, and this is our belief,” he said.
Abdullah urged the public to vote for the alliance and bring its government to Jammu and Kashmir.
“Press the button on the symbol of the hand, make this alliance successful and bring its government to Jammu and Kashmir. This election will relieve you of your difficulties. This is our promise to you,” he assured the crowd.
Abdullah referred to Choudhary Mohammad Akram, who is a rebel candidate contesting against the Congress candidate in the constituency, and asked him to withdraw for “greater good” of the alliance.
“Akram Sahab, your continued stance strengthens those forces that do not want us to live peacefully. Step down and make this alliance a success,” he urged.
