Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said the party won’t allow any changes in the demography of the state, saying that any attempt to dilute the unique identity of the state will be resisted tooth and nail.
Party president while addressing a public gathering at Kulipura in the Nowpura locality of Srinagar said the Muslim character of the state has been a scorn in the eyes of those forces that are inimical to the very identity and integrity of our state. “There are forces whose sole agenda is to dilute the very pluralistic fabric of our state. It was PDP that allowed the fascists to make inroads in our state. Unfortunately such forces as are inimical to the identity of our state are using local henchmen to pursue their agenda. The mushrooming of political outfits in the valley is also suggestive of the nefarious agenda of such forces as want to demean and divide the voice of the people particularly Muslims,” he said adding, “Unfortunately no powerful Muslim voice was allowed to surface on the political landscape of India, what is happening in Kashmir cannot be singled out. Sher-e-Kashmir had prophesized that after his death, the one man political out fits will be propped up in every nook and corner of the state. The main agenda of the right wing extremists is to eliminate the powerful voice of the Muslims in the state.”
Dr Farooq while underscoring the need of having a popularly elected government in the state said, “Today we see group of people at the helm of affairs in our state that are not representative in character. How can few advisors of SAC rise up to the expectations of the people of the state? Today we see how miserably the common population is being treated. The disdain with which the people are being treated speaks volumes about the contempt the incumbent governor administration has for the local population. On one hand honorable governor says that the Yatra would not have been possible without the active support of the local population but on the other hand the same lot of people is subjected to collective detention through highway curbs. Nowhere in the world is the civilian population treated in such a discourteous manner. Had there been a civilian government in place situation would have been much different today,” he said adding, “ Today our institutions, our very identity, the territorial integrity of our state is under threat from forces as have traditionally wanted to obliterate and dissolve our special character. Economically the state is facing a grim situation, the other day the Annual budget had nothing in its kitty for the state. The much touted PM’s package also turned out to be damp squib.”
Party president said the people of the state have to make a choice now. “On one hand we have NC that has historically lent sacrifices for the protection of the identity of the state. And on the other hand we have contemporary Bakshi’s and Sadiq’s who are adding colors to the nefarious designs of the forces as are inimical to our state. The need of the hour requires us to show unity. We should not let ourselves get overwhelmed by the prejudices of cast, creed, sect etc,”he said.
Dr. Farooq while underscoring the need of forging unity said, “The plight that our fellow Muslim brother elsewhere in the world is equally depressing. The agony of Muslims in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan is not hidden from anyone. The forces as are inimical to the interests of Muslim world are unfortunately thriving on the wedge among the Muslims across the world. It is high time for us to shun sectarian prejudices. Above and beyond we should strictly follow the teaching of Holy Quran and the Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). We should imbue our lives with the teachings of the companions of holy prophet (pbuh) and that of the Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS).”
Meanwhile party president visited the residence of late Munshi Ghulam Hassan and expressed solidarity with the grief stricken in their hour of grief. Party president participated in the Majlis of Fatiha Khawani at his residence. He prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the grief stricken family to bear the inconsolable loss.
Meanwhile scores of delegations called on party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar here at party Head quarters Nawa- e- Subha and apprised him about the problems that the local population in the respective localities is facing following imprudent highway restricts. The visiting delegation said the restrictions on the traffic have turned their life into a nightmare. Heaving a sigh, the visiting delegation said the ‘Tuglaqi Farman’ has hit the education of students, who find it difficult to maneuver around in wake of restrictions in place.
Sagar while interacting with them said, “The party has raided the issue on every forum, we have taken rallies against the decision. However the governor administration has shut its eyes and ears to the mounting woes of people,” he said adding that the party will continue to voice against the diktat at all appropriate forums.
