Srinagar: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is an indispensable first step towards rebuilding democratic institutions and restoring the constitutional and democratic rights of the people.
Abdullah made these remarks while addressing a gathering here.
The three-time chief minister described the restoration of statehood as one of the “most urgent necessities” before J&K.
“Restoration of statehood is an indispensable first step towards rebuilding democratic institutions and restoring the constitutional and democratic rights of the people,” he said.
The three-time chief minister expressed surprise over the reports of PM package employees receiving threats, saying there was something “fishy”.
“I am surprised. Why have they received threats? Where have the threats come from?
“It is not just Kashmiri Pandits, there are others too — government officers who are Hindus and leaders from every party. Why did they not receive threats? Why did these (PM package employees) receive threats?” he said.
The NC chief said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) should look into this since security is not with the government but with the Lieutenant Governor.
“Who are these people doing this, using social media, etc.? Who are they? They should pay attention to this. I understand there is something fishy in this, and it should be looked into,” he said.
Abdullah, however, said Kashmiri Pandits were facing problems.
“What happened to the promises made to them? For years, they (BJP) have been running the government; what did they do?
“This (PM’s package employment) is from the time of (former PM) Manmohan Singh and Omar’s time, when they were here, they were brought back, settled here and given jobs. We hoped that their families and others would come and settle here,” he said.
The NC chief pointed out that settling Kashmiri Pandits in transit camps is not right.
“They need to live among the people. Kashmiri Muslims were never against them; and we didn’t do it, everyone knows who did it,” he added.
To a question about the Cockroach Janata Party’s threat of protests, Abdullah said they have awakened the nation.
“As far as the CJP is concerned, they have woken the nation up against the atrocities, tragedies that people face, how the judiciary functions, how the government functions, and how the Constitution is not adhered to. And I think it is a good thing that they have raised this voice.
“I hope that the government will wake up and realise that the Constitution is the highest thing for every citizen of India, regardless of religion, language or the area they come from,” he said.
The former Union minister asserted that India has unity in diversity and it is the states that make this nation.
“Therefore, if you rob the states of their authorities and concentrate power in one place, that is not going to work, and it is not going to make this country strong. If India has to be strong and has to grow, then the states must be made strong. The problems of the states have to be looked into, because that is where people live,” he added.
Asked about the just-concluded Parliament session, Abdullah said the whole country and the world saw how the Parliament functioned.
“The Parliament has been rendered completely weak; members raise questions, but answers are not given. After all, Parliament is meant to bring people’s concerns forward.
“I have also been an MP and have seen it very closely. People go to Parliament, express their difficulties, talk about the country’s problems and speak about what is happening,” he said.
If the government does not pay attention, he said, then obviously what you saw will happen. “That is the problem. If you have practically put Parliament in a dustbin, what else will come out of it?”
