Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said his party would continue its constitutional struggle for the restoration of statehood and the rights that were taken away from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir would remain unstable until the commitments made at the time of the region’s accession to India were honoured.
“It will be stable when they realise that we are human beings and that we joined India on certain conditions. Those conditions should be reviewed and honour must be restored,” he said when asked about the political stability of Jammu and Kashmir.
The National Conference leader blamed what he termed the “negligence” of the region by the Centre for the prevailing instability.
Responding to criticism that the National Conference had failed to address public grievances, Abdullah said the party was working under difficult circumstances.
“The powers are divided. The Lieutenant Governor has most of the powers when he should not have those powers. He is a nominee from Delhi. The people have elected a government here and the elected government should have the powers, not the LG,” he said.
On the issue of restoration of statehood, Abdullah said all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir were united.
Asked whether the National Conference would invite all political parties to join its protest in Delhi, he said the party would hold its programme and others are free to participate.
“We are going. Those who want to come can come. We will not invite anyone,” he said.
Referring to calls made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for opposition parties to support the demand for statehood, Abdullah said unity on the issue was the need of the hour.
“This is the need of the hour to get united for the restoration of statehood. We are all united as far as statehood is concerned,” he said.
Asked whether Jammu and Kashmir would regain the identity it had lost after the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah said, “I am not God. Only Allah knows it and the people who are in power in Delhi.”
He, however, asserted that the National Conference would continue its struggle for the restoration of the region’s rights.
“We are already fighting. We are not silent. We will continue to fight. Constitutionally, we have the right to protest for what they have taken from us,” Abdullah said.
Commenting on reports of civilian killings in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Abdullah termed it a serious matter and urged the international community to take note.
“I will appeal to the UNHRC to go there and see what problems the people are facing,” he said.(KNS).
