Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday expressed concern over the alleged harassment of Kashmiri shawl vendors in some states, accusing the elements with a “hard-line mindset” of attempting to establish an ‘autocratic’ regime reminiscent of Adolf Hitler.
However, Abdullah noted that Hitler’s dictatorship ended with his suicide, bringing Nazism to an end, and expressed hope that the “polarizing worldview” gaining ground in secular India would also end with time.
“It is our destiny that there are some people whose aim is something else. They are treading Hitler’s path and want to create a Hitler-type regime,” he said. “But Hitler vanished; he shot himself. Nazism ended there, and a time will come here as well when these extremists will go away,” Abdullah told reporters here, following a query about the attacks on Kashmiris.
When asked about the central government’s “hesitant approach” despite assurances to resolve the issues related to Jammu and Kashmir, the NC president declined to comment.
On the translation of the Indian Constitution into Kashmiri language, Abdullah said it had been done long ago and contained nothing new.
He also offered condolences on the demise of former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia, praising the visit of India’s foreign minister to convey condolences, pointing out that India’s friendly relations with the neighboring country should continue.
Abdullah also prayed for lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir and for friendly relations between India and its neighboring countries.
“I pray that on the eve of the New Year, God will end our problems and ensure enduring peace in Jammu and Kashmir. I also pray for India’s continued friendly ties with all its neighbors,” he added.
Meanwhile, the recently elected member of the Rajya Sabha, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, asserted on Thursday that the Centre was likely to take some “big decisions” regarding Jammu and Kashmir in near future, citing promises made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at their recent meeting in New Delhi.
The senior National Conference leader Choudhary Ramzan claims that after receiving a memorandum, highlighting a wide range of matters pertaining to J&K, the Home Minister “responded positively, predicting some positive developments in J&K in the near future”.
In answer to a question from the media on what was discussed and decided at his recent meeting with Amit Shah, he said the Home minister’s response was favorable and that he promised “several positive developments” in J&K soon.
“I believe that everyone is aware of my meeting with the home minister and the issues we brought up. We presented a memorandum to Amit Shah Sahab, and he gave us a really positive response. We were told that there may be a lot of changes in J&K in December 2025 or January 2026, but I don’t want to go into detail about what he said,” Choudhary Ramzan told the media at a function organized on his appointment as the party’s (NC’s) new Additional General Secretary.
According to Ramzan, the chief minister Omar Abdullah will be meeting the home minister shortly to discuss potential solutions for the issues that the people of J&K are facing. The memorandum that was sent to the home minister, he said, had all the details.
Asked if the Center was using “dilly-dallying tactics” in dealing with issues related to J&K, he replied that no such strategies are being used and that his meeting with the Union Home Minister happened only 10 twelve days ago.
“Along with other members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee, I will shortly be meeting with the home minister once again in Port Blair,” he said.
Responding to the chasm caused in the party by Member Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi’s disagreements with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Ramzan said, “There are differences of approach, there is no rift within the party.
“The young Aga Ruhullah has fiery, furious blood coursing through his veins. He believes that all issues should be resolved quickly, but in politics, this is not the case,” Ramzan said.
When questioned about his feelings on being appointed as the Additional General Secretary of the party and the instructions the party president gave him after taking on the role, Choudhary said, “I am grateful to the party president and every single member for reposing faith in me. I will meet people from all around, interact with them so the party president and vice-president are aware of any issues they may be having.”
