Separatists, mainstream ridicule Farooq's statement

NC behind current turmoil in Kashmir: CM

NL Correspondent

SRINAGAR: National Confernce President Dr Farooq Abdullah's statement asking party works to show allegiance to Hurriyat has been ridiculed both by the mainstream and separatist groups in the state.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday accused the NC for being a ‘prime party' of the ongoing unrest in Kashmir.

“Farooq Sahab told his workers to support the Hurriyat which proves that NC can go to any extent for the sake of power. His statement has proved that his party is hand in glove who wanted to disturb peace in the Valley,” Mehbooba told reporters at Indoor Sports Stadium Srinagar where she felicitated top sports players of the state.

The Chief Minister said Farooq Abdullah directed his workers to create “disturbance” in the Valley eventhough the NC had nothing to do with the present struggle (Tehreek). “They have been running their struggle (Tehreek) since 1947 for the sake of chair,” Mehbooba accused, who is heading the PDP-BJP government in the state.

The Chief Minister claimed that NC was involved in “criminal activities” for the last five months where some people damaged vehicles, burnt schools and attacked forces camps. “Now as the normalcy has prevailed, children are going to schools and tourism started picking up in the Valley, Farooq Sahab directs his workers to create disturbance in the Valley.”

Mehbooba said Farooq Abdullah's son Omar Abdullah when he was External Affairs minister in the BJP led government at the centre has talked against Pakistan at the national and international level and demanded it to be declared it as a ‘terrorist country'. “Farooq Abdullah who was once demanding bombarding Pakistan and said Hurriyat people should be thrown into River Jehlum is now speaking in a different language today.It shows NC is playing with the children, women for the sake of chair,” she accused.

The Chief Minister made these accusations a day after NC President and former chief minister of the state Farooq Abdullah threw his weight behind unified Hurriyat and asked his workers to be part of the struggle (Tehreek) in the Valley.

While addressing party workers at the mausoleum of his father and former Prime Minister of Jammu Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on his 111th birth anniversary at Naseem Bagh on Srinagar outskirts on Monday, Farooq asked workers to be a part of the struggle and said the NC had always fought for the interests of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting to Farooq Abdullah statement, the BJP spokesperson Khalid Jehaingir, said, “Government should ask the security agencies and police to probe the role of NC leaders in the ongoing unrest and stern action should be taken against anyone who is found involved in fomenting trouble in Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah's statement indicates that NC has played a major role in pushing Kashmir towards the edge.”

He said, “If any of the NC leaders are found involved in sponsoring anti-India protests and the Halla-Gulla, which Kashmir witnessed during the past five months, should be booked and dealt according to the law of the land.”

The BJP spokesman said, “It seems Dr Farooq Abdullah has forgotten that he rigged the elections with Congress in 1987 to grab the power. Those rigged elections proved turning point in the history of Kashmir and led to the breaking out of armed insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and led exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley.”

Jehangir said, “National Conference has seen the writing on the wall and knows that it has lost the ground in Kashmir. People have rejected NC and its leaders and they know it very well that they would never come into power again.”

The BJP spokesman said, “If Farooq Abdullah is really interested in so-called Azadi and the movement then he should give up his Z-security cover, quit mainstream politics and join the separatist camp.”

Senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah termed the statement of National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah as “contradictory”, saying on one hand he (Farooq) acknowledges the need of resolving Kashmir issue and on other reaffirms his age-old stand by suggesting the autonomy as solution.

Shah said Farooq Abdullah's speech is “dubious” as “on one hand, he directs his associates to make youth aware of the significance of Article 370 and autonomy and on other offers support to the Hurriyat Conference and those associated with the resistance camp. He (Farooq Abdullah) should unambiguously declare his way of ‘resistance' regarding the future of the State”.

Shah said if NC patron is true to his words, he should resign from the Assembly and other government posts and “we'll together fight against the occupiers for the resolution of Kashmir dispute”.

MLA Langate Sheikh Abdul Rasheed while welcoming NC Patron Dr. Farooq's statement that he is ready to support Hurriyat and his party favours what people of Kashmir are fighting for, has appealed Hurriyat and other political groups to consider his offer on merits.