Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday defended the performance of the Jammu and Kashmir government amid financial and administrative constraints, while asserting that “change” was on the way as he criticised the Election Commission over alleged deletions from voter rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Speaking at the fifth ‘Halla Bolle’ conclave in Srinagar, the three-time former chief minister said the government was doing as much as possible within its limited resources and difficult circumstances.
“The government is doing its work to the extent it can. But if you demand that we fetch the moon and stars, that is not possible. Look at the circumstances under which we are working. We are walking on the edge of a sword, and on that razor’s edge, we are trying to do as much as possible,” Abdullah said.
He said ministers were continuously reaching out to people despite resource constraints, adding that the administration had been dealing with a difficult financial situation.
“Our ministers are not sitting idle; they are constantly on the move. Even today, they are out reaching the people. We are trying to reach everywhere within the resources we have,” he said.
Abdullah also linked the government’s difficulties to the broader financial position of Jammu and Kashmir, saying the Union Territory had suffered a setback over the past year but was still “keeping its heads high”.
The NC chief, however, turned sharply towards national politics while responding to questions on protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise.
He alleged that names had been selectively removed from voter rolls and said no authority had the right to deprive an Indian citizen of the right to vote.
“Courage is beginning to emerge among our people. Change will come. I am telling you, whether I am alive or dead, change is on the way,” Abdullah said.
He cited protests in Mumbai and Delhi against the CEC and the SIR, saying political parties and people were beginning to “rise up” and challenge decisions they considered unacceptable.
Abdullah also criticised the manner in which the Election Commission is appointed, arguing that the institution should have been made completely autonomous.
“They should have made the Election Commission totally autonomous. It was a mistake, and we are suffering the consequences today,” he said.
Turning to Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah reiterated his criticism of the abrogation of Article 370 and accused successive governments of eroding the region’s autonomy.
He said the BJP had opposed Article 370 for decades and alleged that political actors in J&K had also contributed to the weakening of the region’s autonomy.
The NC chief also criticised the PDP without naming it, referring to its alliance with the BJP in 2014-15 and alleging that successive governments had dismantled laws that had protected J&K’s autonomy.
“Until we develop that inner strength, we are distant even from god,” Abdullah said, arguing that the region needed greater self-reliance.
He said J&K remained dependent on outside resources and even labour for routine economic activity, citing paddy harvesting as an example.
“Today, even when it is time to harvest paddy, we look for Bihari labourers. We won’t even do that ourselves. That is our reality,” he said.
On the political dispute over J&K’s constitutional status, Abdullah reiterated his long-standing position that Article 370 should have been made permanent and referred to the unimplemented UN framework for a referendum.
He maintained that the erosion of autonomy had taken place gradually through the extension of central laws to the erstwhile state.
Abdullah’s remarks came against the backdrop of growing political debate over the SIR exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission, while his defence of the J&K government reflected the challenges facing the NC-led administration amid limited financial resources and the region’s changed constitutional status.
‘Mehbooba urges parties to emulate Ladakh unity’
Srinagar: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday urged political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to learn from Ladakh’s unity in pursuing its demands, calling for all parties to come together and jointly take up the region’s political, social and economic issues with the Centre.
“We should learn a lesson from Ladakh — the way they came together to push for their demands…,” Mehbooba said, stressing that Jammu and Kashmir could not address its challenges through individual political parties acting alone.
She said all political parties must come together and form a common platform to engage with the Centre on issues concerning the Union territory.
“Until all the political parties come together and form an alliance and engage with Delhi, we will not be able to tell them to stop banning our institutions, conducting raids and the arrests and detentions of our young people,” Mehbooba said, speaking at the 5th ‘Halla Bolle’ conclave organised by a news portal here.
The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir said the region’s biggest challenge was its young population; political leaders needed to understand their concerns and difficulties rather than merely answer their questions.
“Our biggest challenge is that 60 per cent of our population comprises youths. What are we going to do for them? We not only have to answer their questions, but also understand their difficulties,” she said.
Mehbooba said prolonged detentions, surveillance, arrests and raids had created difficulties for families and could further alienate the younger generation.
She said she had already written letters to the heads of all political parties and everybody, except the National Conference, has responded positively.
“National Conference apparently dismissed the idea even before going through the letter, as was evident when one of its leaders and a minister rejected it… I had no personal or political ego in seeking greater unity, and my only concern is the future of our children, which is at stake,” she said.
Referring to Ladakh’s experience of collective political mobilisation in support of their demands, she said Jammu and Kashmir should learn from the manner in which different groups there came together to press for their demands like statehood and the inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
She urged the National Conference and other parties to work together and build a consensus on issues affecting Jammu and Kashmir.
“Until all of us come together, we will not be able to achieve anything,” she said.
On the younger generation, Mehbooba said its worldview had changed significantly because of technology and that political leadership needed to respond accordingly.
“Our youngsters are extremely intelligent. Through their mobile phones, their world has reached God knows where. Our vision may be limited, but their vision is very clear,” she said.
She also invoked the political vision of her father, former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and defended her party’s alliance with BJP to form a government in the erstwhile state, from 2014-15 to 2018, saying he had sought to take Jammu and Kashmir out of its difficulties through dialogue and greater connectivity.
Mehbooba said the PDP’s approach had been to take forward the peace process, including through dialogue and opening routes, and argued that Jammu and Kashmir needed to provide its youth with “a new world” through greater opportunities and connectivity.
She also cited her government’s decision to withdraw cases against around 12,000 young people, saying it was done with the help of the BJP even as the “stone-pelting was still a challenge” in the region.
Mehbooba accused the National Conference-led government of “normalising” the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, saying issues over arrests, dismissals and other measures that were earlier protested against are now being treated as “routine”.
The PDF chief claimed that Jammu and Kashmir risked losing its language, culture and traditions — as it is facing an “onslaught” under the BJP-led central government — unless the region’s political class came together.
“The future of our children is at stake,” she added.
