Srinagar: Opposition National Conference president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Friday “made it clear” to government of India and National Investigation Agency (NIA) that no amount of ‘atrocities’ would make people “sell their imaan (failth/ideals)”.
“I will consider these (NIA) raids valid only if something substantial comes out. If it is just to harass them, then I would like to tell the Government of India that (no amount of atrocities would make people in Kashmir sell their (faith/ideals),” Farooq Abdullah, member parliament, told reporters on the sidelines of a party function here.
Asked what he has any expectations on Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s upcoming visit to Valley, Farooq said: “I have no expectation at all. He will come and he will meet as he had done before. What happen then when he led a delegation of MPs? What happened to recommendation of the MPs. Nothing happened and I do not expect anything now to happen”.
Asked what will be the fun of Home Minister’s visit and to whom he shall talk when separatist leaders are either detained or under house arrest, Farooq replied: “See it is a tragedy. See if you have to talk to anybody, then those people should be released so that they can tell him what they have to tell to Home Minister. It’s important that they should be released so that they can tell him what is in their minds and hearts.
During his four-day visit beginning Saturday, Singh will travel to Srinagar, Anantnag, Jammu and Rajouri and is expected meet civil society members, leaders of political and social outfits, business leaders and others, a move seen as a follow-up to the prime minister’s Independence Day speech in which he had reached out to the people of the Valley.
Earlier, addressing a commemorative function and congregational Fateha Khwani at the mausoleum of party founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on his 35th death anniversary said that the assault on the State’s special status was a challenge that should unite everyone who was sincere towards the people and was committed to defend the State’s unique political and cultural identity.
“The assault on Article 35-A is an assault on our soul and our identity and we should all unite to defend our honour. The powers that be are using myths and distortions to support their long-cherished goal of weakening J&K from within but in the end the truth always prevails. Article 35-A is not for any one region or religion of the State but is an article of faith and honour for all regions and religions. The party’s outreach and awareness programme is being met with overwhelming response in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions and this is a proof of our unity in standing up for our rights as one State and one people irrespective of our religion, region, caste or creed,” he said.
Former Chief Minister and Party’s Working President Omar Abdullah attacked ruling PDP for its alliance with BJP and likened it with Trojan horse.
“Those who have always dreamt of weakening our special status are now in an alliance with a party from within our state and are using this Trojan Horse to the hilt to divide us and rob us of our rights,” Omar said, adding, “The best tribute to Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah would be to fight against these forces with full political might and ensure their evil goals are nipped in the bud.”
He said National Conference will continue to reach out to the people in all the three regions of the State to evolve a strong and resolute consensus on the grassroots level.
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