SRINAGAR: Apni Party Senior Vice President and former Cabinet Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir on Monday criticised National Conference president Farooq Abdullah over his recent statement that Pakistan was helping protect Kashmiris, saying the remarks were unnecessary and could create confusion among people.
Speaking to reporters, Mir said Abdullah had made contradictory statements about Pakistan on different occasions, making it difficult to understand his position.
“Farooq Sahib should not have made this statement. However, we also need to look at the sequence of his statements. On several occasions, he has described Pakistan as an enemy, but today he is calling it a friend. It is difficult to understand which of his statements he actually believes,” Mir said.
He said political leaders in Kashmir were failing to provide clear direction to people, leaving them confused by what he described as contradictory statements and shifting positions.
Referring to concerns among young people, Mir said a colleague’s 16-year-old son, who studies in Class 10, had raised questions about the difference in how political leaders and ordinary Kashmiris were treated for making similar statements.
“A party colleague’s 16-year-old son, who is in Class 10, told me yesterday that Farooq Sahib has the privilege of making such statements, whereas an ordinary Kashmiri making a similar statement could be booked under the PSA,” Mir said.
He said the observation reflected the apprehensions of many young people in Jammu and Kashmir and called upon the Government of India to take meaningful initiatives to address their concerns and rebuild trust.
Reiterating Apni Party’s demand for dialogue between the Centre and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Mir said the party believed engagement was necessary to bridge the prevailing distance and trust deficit.
“It is the Government of India that must take the initiative to start these talks. Such a dialogue would help address genuine issues, bridge the trust deficit, and restore credibility in the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country,” he said.
Mir said Apni Party would not make statements that could further widen the trust deficit between the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our aim is to rebuild trust, strengthen mutual understanding, and restore the credibility of the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre,” he added.
