SAHIL BHAT
AUG 4: With August 5 marking the six years of nullification of Article 370, National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah slammed the Central Government, and questioned about the timeline for the restoration of Statehood.
Asserting the Centre responsible for not fulfilling the promise of Statehood, Dr Farooq Abdullah also asked the Government to conduct polls for the Rajya Sabha seats and not to defy giving rights to people to discuss woes.
“When are they going to reinstate Statehood, they had said in past several times that on the heels of forming the Government in Jammu and Kashmir, Statehood will be restored. What has happened to that? Why are they denying the people their right to speak?” Dr Farooq Abdullah questioned Centre.
While reacting to BJP plan to celebrate nullification of Article 370, Dr Farooq Abdullah said there is no need to celebrate since the rampant unemployment and inflation have popped up as the burning issues of Jammu and Kashmir and the people are left high and dry.
“There is nothing to celebrate Abrogation of Article 370 because our highly educated youth are unemployed. Prices of various commodities are touching sky heights. And disparity between poor and rich still exists. It is not an achievement,” NC stalwart highlighted.
Taking a swipe at LG Manoj Sinha, Dr Farooq said “His viceroy is sitting here in Raj Bhawan and he is the main man. The time has come when fundamental laws have to be implemented.”
Answering a question on Centre’s way out for restoration of peace, Dr Farooq Abdullah said, “I don’t think any way out for peace coming. We are living on fool’s paradise thinking of peace to restore overnight. We have two strong neighbours like Pakistan and China. Someone has to find the way out as war is not the way out.”
