Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said his party is committed to the struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and special status but will contest elections whenever they are held in the union territory.
He was speaking to reporters after paying his respects at NC founder and his father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s mausoleum at Naseem Bagh here on his 39th death anniversary.
The Centre had abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution and divided Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories on August 05, 2019. Article 370 granted special status to the erstwhile state.
Abdullah said the NC is committed to the struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and special status. “So far as statehood and Article 370 are concerned, we are firm on our stand and there would be no change in our stance at all,” Abdullah said.
“We don’t know when elections will be held, but we are clear about it. We will contest elections whenever they are held in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
On the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan, the former chief minister said he hoped that they will respect human rights and seek friendly relations with all countries.
“The Taliban have taken over, and now they have to nurture the country. I hope that they (will) do justice with all,” Abdullah said.
“They should seek friendly relations with all countries,” he said.
Abdullah, when asked a question regarding the Afghanistan situation and its impact on Jammu and Kashmir, said, “Look Afghanistan is a different country and those who have come in power there have to take the responsibility of running the country. I hope that they will do justice to everyone and run a good government keeping in mind human rights and teachings of Islam.
“At the same time, I would also like them to seek friendly relations with all countries,” Abdullah said.
Earlier, NC president, Member of Parliament Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday led party functionaries in offering Fatiha and floral tributes at the final resting place of party’s founding leader Late Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on his 39th death anniversary.
According to a statement issued by the party, the leaders while offering tributes to Sher-e-Kashmir said that he was one of the titans of the freedom movement for the restoration of people’s democratic rights.
Party leaders pledged to offer every sacrifice for upholding and preserving the rights of the people of J&K. “The life and struggle of Sher-e-Kashmir”, the statement said, was “emblematic of people’s genuine aspirations and that on his anniversary the best tribute to him would be to tread the path which he had left behind for all of us to follow”.
Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) on Wednesday hit out at a section of media for “falsely attributing” comments regarding Taliban to its party president Farooq Abdullah who had expressed hope that the new regime in Afghanistan would respect human rights and seek friendly relations with all countries.
Taking a dig at some news channels, the NC on Twitter deplored the “twisting” of words and misrepresentation of events to manufacture stories with mala fide intention.
Some news channels had claimed that Abdullah had backed the Taliban government in Afghanistan, prompting the party to hit back, saying, “Backs? How? Falsely attributing things to Dr Farooq Abdullah that he never said is deplorable.
“Twisting words and misrepresenting the intended meaning only exposes the so called ‘channels’ that manufacture stories with mala fide intention”.
Senior party leaders wondered about the motive behind the malicious attempt by a section of the media, especially electronic media.
