Srinagar Dec 5: Days after Narendra Modi’s BJP government rolled back three controversial farm laws, the National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday asked his workers to ready for sacrifices on the lines of farmers’ agitation.
“After 12-month long of protests when 700 farmers died, they (BJP) had to repeal the three farm laws. All of you have to remain steadfast. We may also have to offer similar sacrifices (like farmers) to get back those rights snatched from us by the Centre,” Abdullah said.
He was speaking at a function at Srinagar’s Hazratbal locality organized to celebrate the 116th birthday of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, the founder of the grand old regional party, NC.
New Delhi had granted special constitutional status to Jammu and Kashmir, with Article 370 and its corollary Article 35-A protecting its land and jobs.
“National Conference has made this pledge that we will bring back Article 370, Article 35-A, and statehood to the J&K. We are ready to give any sacrifice for that,” Abdullah said.
The Congress, Peoples Conference and Apni Party, who in present circumstances are seen close to New Delhi’s stand on J&K, say it’s unlikely the federal government of the BJP, which had abrogation of Article 370 in its manifesto, will return it.
They are accusing the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) led by the NC and PDP of misleading the people by hollow promises.
However, the PAGD has recently started massive campaigning for the restoration of statehood and the return of Article 370 and Article 35-A to the J&K.
“There will be people who will discourage you about this struggle but you should not listen to them. NC leaders and workers have to stay united with people in every village and locality,” Dr Abdullah said.
He also asked NC youth workers to become pious Muslims and work for the welfare of the people of J&K. “You are young and have to take the burden of this party. First of all, you should offer prayers five times daily and follow the righteous path shown by Allah. People will look at your deeds and Allah will make ease your difficulties in this struggle,” he said.
The former Chief Minister said the resistance shown by the families of three slain persons of the Hyderpora encounter forced the administration to exhume the bodies of two and return to the families. “The body of the third innocent is yet to be handed over to his family in Ramban,” Dr Abdullah said.
He also questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comparison between tourism and the return of normalcy in Kashmir. “What does it mean that tourism is picking up in Kashmir. Is tourism everything [to reflect the ground situation],” the NC chief asked.
The NC termed Abdullah “the man of iron-determination and incisive vision”.
“His visualisation in the shape of ‘Naya Kashmir’ manifesto had an unmistakably socialistic stamp that guaranteed freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and meetings. It ensured equality of opportunity irrespective of birth and parentage,” said the statement issued by the party.
