Hold early elections in JK: Farooq Abdullah

Jammu: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday sought early conduct of elections to Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, apprehending that the BJP may attempt to get these delayed for the fear of imminent defeat due to its mis-governance and failure in keeping up the promises.
“Hold elections and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, not New Delhi, will choose the government they want for themselves”, Dr Abdullah said while paying homage to Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar at a function held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this afternoon.
Dr Abdullah said a stable and strong government alone can lead the state to peace and development. He said the alliance on crutches does not suit the state, which is facing numerous challenges and exuded confidence that National Conference will get peoples’ massive mandate. In this context, he referred to the landslide victory of National Conference in 1996 that brought about a discernible transformation by building militancy damaged infrastructure, opening of schools, strengthening of health institutions, functioning of the various utility services etc. In 2000, he said his government provided a record 1.50 lakh jobs to educated unemployed. “This all happened because of the strong and stable government”, he added.
Dr Abdullah complimented Governor Satya Pal Malik for dissolving the Legislative Assembly and ending the five months’ era of confusion and suspense with BJP desperately trying to manage support for installing a particular person as Chief Minister. Even the visit of BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav to Srinagar failed to garner support for that person, who had made all the preparations for swearing in ceremony.
“By dissolving the assembly, the State had a sigh of relief on the prospect of getting rid of a corrupt lot, who indulged in acts of commission and omission for three and half years”, he said, amid huge applause and slogans of early polls.
On the overall political scenario across the country, Dr Farooq Abdullah gave a clarion call to the opposition parties across the spectrum to shun their trivial differences and make the Mahagathbandhan stronger to take on the ‘divisive government’ in New Delhi. He blamed the current dispensation for sowing seeds of hate and intolerance and pushing the country to fragmentation. He said hate politics has proved detrimental to the interests of Dalits and minorities across the country.
“It is incumbent upon the opposition to unite for the unity of India”, he said adding that the nation had no threat from China or Pakistan but from the forces inimical to secularism and inclusive ethos of India. He decried the politics of garnering support in the name of religion, saying neither Lord Rama nor Allah need votes. He said the politics of hate has done immense harm to the country and belittling political families like Nehrus and Gandhis is a cheap political discourse. He said the two families have had a great contribution in building modern India and the role of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi cannot be undermined. “The family has given many sacrifices for the nation”, he said, adding that he never nurtured any ill will against Pt Nehru in whose tenure Sher-e-Kashmir had been imprisoned.
Without naming the BJP, the National Conference chief lamented over ill-conceived decisions on GST and demonetization, saying these have choked avenues of employment and growth by adversely affecting industries and related sectors. Even the state like Jammu and Kashmir could not escape from the ill-effects of anti-people policies perused by the Centre. He said the institutions have been destroyed by deploying RSS people in these, thus compromising with their identities.
Dr Farooq Abdullah urged Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi to emulate Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, who tried to carry along everyone on vital national issues. In this context, he referred to the China visit of the former Prime Minister and his consultations with him about any issue pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir to be raised there. He said he had pitched for opening of Kailash-Mansarovar route via Ladakh, which however did not happen. He hoped that Modi would consider taking up this issue with Beijing.
On the hate politics of the BJP, Dr Abdullah assailed UP Chief Minister Aditya Nath for showing least concern over the killing of a police officer in Bulandshahar by a frenzy mob. “Instead of visiting the family, Yogi chose to attend a sports event”, he said and also referred to his spar with Owaisis, describing it as cheap politics.
Dr Farooq Abdullah reiterated conversion of Line of Control into Line of Peace between India and Pakistan, seeking opening of all the routes for pilgrimage and people to people exchange.
Paying rich homage to Babasaheb, Dr Farooq Abdullah said the nation will remain indebted to him for the Constitution, which is acclaimed one of the best across the world. He referred to indignity suffered by Babasaheb and said this did not deter him to contribute towards the nation. He eulogized his role for the weaker sections of society and called for social justice and opportunities to be provided to all. He said Babasaheb worked tirelessly for the deprived like Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah did in Jammu and Kashmir. “It is because of the revolutionary Land Reforms Act, not a single farmer has committed suicide in the state, as their ancestors became masters of the holdings overnight”, he added.