Srinagar: Days after National Conference president Farooq Abdullah expressed disappointment over the feeble support from the INDIA bloc on the Jammu and Kashmir statehood issue, the Congress on Sunday hit back, saying that it was the regional party that lagged in the struggle for it.
“It is the National Conference that lagged in the struggle for restoration of statehood, whereas Congress has always remained at the forefront and on the streets for this demand, right from day one,” the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC)said in a statement.
In a recent interview, Abdullah had expressed deep disappointment over the INDIA bloc, especially the Congress, “not supporting” the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood with the “expected vigour”.
In a candid assessment of the opposition bloc, Abdullah had said that while his party remains a committed member of the alliance, it has fallen short of its potential.
“You see, that has been our biggest objection to this national alliance. We have the hope that they would, with far more vigour, fight for our cause. That has not happened. Really very sad that the major party, Indian National Congress, has not really played the role that we expect from it,” Abdullah had told.
The Congress on Sunday said Abdullah was diverting people’s attention from his party’s great resentment over the Centre not fulfilling their demand, and their failure to build a strong movement on the ground.
“The Congress party and its leadership have played a front role all these years over the issue and intensified its struggle, especially after the assembly elections. The party has remained on the streets to press for the most important demand of the people — the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir,” the JKPCC said.
People ask the National Conference to explain what it did to achieve the legitimate demand, which the Centre had committed to fulfil but has not, it said.
JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla said the Congress did not even join the Union Territory’s cabinet, which is only the right of any pre-poll ally after winning the election.
“This was only to expose the BJP government, which had committed to restoring the statehood immediately after the assembly elections,” Bhalla said.
