Jammu, Jan 20: National Conference (NC) president and the former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday, while dismissing a suggestion for more administrative divisions or districts in J&K, asserted that there were many people who wanted to break J&K yet they would never succeed.
In the same breath, he also rebuffed the allegation by J&K BJP leaders that the NC and PDP wanted to create disturbance, bring back the era of stone-pelting in J&K again- with a counter-allegation though obliquely. He stated that the NC gave blood and faced bullets for it (J&K) and was not among saboteurs.
“Tell them (BJP), they, and not we, are the people who create disturbance. We have given our blood for it (J&K). We have seen the scars of bullets. We have faced bullets just to be with India and we will continue to do so even in future,” he said, while responding to the media queries after attending his party’s two-day convention of block presidents at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, Jammu.
“Many a time, such (division of state) propositions were floated. There are many people who want to break the State (J&K). But they will never succeed,” former Chief Minister said, while dismissing voices of further disintegration of J&K.
Confronted with a query about the BJP leaders seeking separate state and similar voices from the Valley, including former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattoo and Peoples Conference supremo Sajad Lone, he said, “We (NC) never wanted it. We did not want even Ladakh to get separated from us (J&K). How did it (separation) benefit Ladakhis? Today even Ladakhis are rejecting Union Territory status and are demanding integration with J&K.” “Those raking such demands are foolish and ill-informed people. Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh was one state. God willing, Ladakh will return to J&K again, one day. They (BJP) wanted to separate Ladakh and they did. But what purpose did it (separation of Ladakh) serve?” he questioned.
Regarding PDP president’s suggestion to have separate administrative divisions for Pir Panchal and Chenab Valley sub-regions of Jammu province, NC president said, “Probably you (media) would not be knowing- this is an old plan- (Owen) Dixon plan, which proposed the division of J&K- christening the area across the Chenab as “Greater Kashmir”. But it was Parmar Sahib of Himachal who reminded the people of Chamba and Kangra that their native language was Himachali. Therefore, many people had different big plans (for disintegration of state). There are many people who want to break the State (J&K). But they will never succeed,” Dr Farooq said. Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar was the first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. The NC president also dismissed the proposition that J&K should have more districts. “No. No more districts should be carved (out of Jammu). There are already many districts. It would be great if they could take care of already existing districts and attend to their needs,” he said.
In response to a question about the accusation of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti about rising unemployment under the nose of the present ruling dispensation, Farooq had a counter-question. “She, herself, was a Chief Minister. What had she done? Her father too was a Chief Minister. What did they do? It is very easy to point the finger at others but mind it, in the act, three fingers point at those levelling accusations, as well,” he retorted. With regard to a question about the prospects of talks with Pakistan and a comment of the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who described Pakistan as “irresponsible nation”, Farooq stated, “Media is suffering from Pakistan-phobia. They should come out of it. Only remember what the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had said- We can change our friends but not our neighbours. We all are reckless, irresponsible. Entire world is like this.”
About the US President Donald Trump’s invitation to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be part of the “Board of Peace” for restoring peace in Gaza, the NC president said that India’s ties with the Trump (US) were old and stable. “That friendship is passing through a turbulent phase now. It will be back in its pristine form soon, God willing,” he replied.
