Modi still cannot remove Article 370, 35-A: Farooq

‘Will win Assembly polls with absolute majority’

JAMMU: Having won his way back to second consecutive term in the Parliament with a thumping majority, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Friday asserted that despite a massive majority at Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot remove article 35-A and article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir.

Exuding confidence of winning the forthcoming assembly elections in the State with absolute majority, Abdullah asked party cadre to prepare for the polls, and said his party will work for strengthening the bond between communities and regions, besides dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Vally.

"Let him be as powerful as he (Modi) likes, he cannot remove article 370 and article 35-A (from the state of Jammu and Kashmir)," Abdullah told reporters at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan where he was welcomed by enthusiastic party workers and functionaries on his arrival after clean sweep by the party in all the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir.

"Our right of article 370 and article 35-A should be protected. This is very important for us. We are soldiers of this country not enemies of this nation," he said.

Article 370 grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir and limits Parliament's power to make laws concerning the state. Article 35A empowers the state assembly to define 'permanent residents' for bestowing special rights and privileges on them.

Abdullah urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to walk the extra mile to reach out to the people of Kashmir.

“The prime minister should make efforts to unite the people of the country instead of dividing them. I hope that the Modi-led central government would do justice with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The rights of the people were needed to be protected and a sense of security instilled among them,” he said.

Abdullah urged the Centre to expedite development, complete the rail project bring Kashmir on the railway map on an immediate basis and lay emphasis on dependable road communication. He expressed concern over frequent closures of the Jammu-Srinagar highway and said this aspect was required to be taken care of for the sake of smooth mobility.

Abdullah (83) got 1,06,750 votes and defeated Aga Syed Mohsin of the PDP by 70,050 votes in the Srinagar constituency, which has a total electorate of 12,94,560. This will be Abdullah's fourth term in the Lok Sabha, having been a member in 1980, 2009 and 2017 previously.

He appreciated Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for continuing with his agenda of unity and diversity.
"Winning and losing is a part of life. Rahul Gandhi after five years will make a comeback and I don't think that people of Amethi will forget him. I think he (Rahul) will sit down and introspect as to why this happened and how to ensure Congress becomes stronger," the NC chief said.

Abdullah asserted that his party will form next government in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are hopeful of forming next government in the state on our own," he said, adding his party will provide autonomy to all the three regions of Ladakh, Kashmir, and Jammu after winning the assembly polls.

“Gear up for assembly elections”, Farooq told enthusiastic party workers.

"People have given us the three parliamentary seats and have showed faith in us. National Conference will keep their trust and always stand by them," said Dr Abdullah.

He declared that National Conference is well poised to register massive victory in all the three regions in the upcoming assembly elections and assured that after formation of the government with absolute majority, it will work towards fulfilling the regional aspirations of the people by grant of regional autonomy under the superintendence of the state government.

He said no section of the society should nurture a feeling of deprivation.

Jammu and Kashmir is presently under President’s Rule, which was imposed in December last year. Governor Rule was imposed in June 2018 after BJP pulled out of the government by divorcing its coalition partner Peoples Democratic Party.

“Our agenda is to foster amity and bridge the gap between various sections of the society”, he said, adding that pluralistic ethos and inclusiveness is the greatest strength of the state.

He also pledged that his party will work towards dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homes and hearths in the Valley. He said restoration of peace is a pre-requisite, which has to be restored back in the state.

On a question that BJP has said that they will form next government in the state, Dr Abdullah said, "it is not the BJP to decide but the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will choose their next chief minister."

On alliance with the BJP, he said, "don’t you want NC to form government on its own? We will form our own government in the state."

However, on Indo-Pak relation after Prime Minister Narendra Modi steering BJP to power once again, the National Conference stalwart said, "Mr Modi have to change himself."

"If you (Modi) want to save the nation, you have to join hands with your neighbour," he added and said, "we both (India-Pakistan) are sailing in the same boat. They (Pakistan) also have worst situation. We cannot raise guns every time at each other."

“There are no roads, water, electricity and similar is the situation in India, he added and said, "we must think of making the nation developed."

"Nobody can progress being an enemy rather they (Centre) have to find out a solution with the Pakistan," said the former chief minister.

"If we want to make India a secular and developed nation, we have to be on the same page and save the nation with development and progress by leaving aside the gun culture," said Abdullah.