National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday again pitched for autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir and asked Modi government to rollback all central laws extended to the state after 1953. Addressing a public meeting in Uri, Farooq Abdullah said the restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir was non-negotiable and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage with people of the state to bring back normalcy.
“The time has come to reverse the extension of all central laws extended to J&K post-1953 through pliant regimes that were installed in Jammu and Kashmir through covert and undemocratic machinations to disempower the people of the State and rob them of their political identity,” the former chief minister, as reported by the New Indian Express, said. Abdullah, who is also Srinagar MP, said the erosion of state’s autonomy is the genesis of the political problem in Kashmir.
“It was this sense of betrayal, disenchantment and disillusionment that has fuelled the eruption of turmoil and unrest in Kashmir at regular intervals in our history and the New Delhi needs to acknowledge it,” Abdullah was quoted as saying. He further reminded Narendra Modi of his speech on August 15 in which he had underlined the need to embrace the people of Kashmir and said the Prime Minister now must take genuine efforts to engage with people of Kashmir.
Abdullah, who has been the three-time chief minister of the state, also slammed the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for imposing Goods and Service Tax at the behest of the Centre. He described the extension of GST to J&K “as a plot to deprive the State people of their political honour”. He urged India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir at the earliest as per the sentiments and the aspirations of its people.
“It is against the interests of both India and Pakistan to keep the Kashmir Issue unresolved and has staggering economic and political costs for both neighbours. If we want to usher the subcontinent into an era of peace, prosperity and economic progress – it is imperative to resolve the Kashmir issue as per the sentiments and the aspirations of its people,” Abdullah said.
Farooq Abdullah seeks autonomy for J&K, asks PM to engage with people
