Said no decision to go alone in assembly polls so far;
‘Amnesty to stone throwers to be looked into’
Srinagar: National Conference patron and former Member Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday while keeping option of pre-poll open with the state Congress stated that sofar no decision about going alone or forging any alliance has been taken by NC for the forthcoming assembly polls in the state.
According to the KNS correspondent, Dr Farooq while talking to the reporters after attending a detailed meet with the youth leaders of his party remarked that a major reshuffle within the national conference can take place any time. “It is the routine process of the every party. I can only say that reshuffle within NC is possible,” Dr Farooq said wile replying to the query over the issue.
The NC patron also advocated for the amnesty for the stone throwers, maintaining that the issue must be looked into. “These stone throwers should be given amnesty. I believe that the case of providing general amnesty to the stone throwing youth must be looked into.”
When asked for his views over the recent statement made by Dr Jitender wherein he stated that the process of repealing JK’s special status has been started and BJP is taking to the stakeholders, Dr Farooq refused to comment over the issue- maintaining that his son chief minister Omar Abdullah has already stated party’s view over the vitality of Article 370 and the dangerous repercussions if the same is eroded.
When asked over the claims he made during the campaign of recently held polls for the parliament wherein he had stated that Jammu and Kashmir will cease to be the part of Union territory if India becomes communal, Dr Farooq said that he has never stated anything like that. Pertinently, Dr Farooq who was candidate for Srinagar’s Lok Sabha parliamentary seat for Srinagar while addressing a rally at old city’s Khaniyar area on April 28 was reported to have stated that the people of Kashmir have never nourished communalism and have always rejected the fight on the bases of religion, cast and creed.“State of Jammu and Kashmir will cease to be the part of Union territory if India becomes communal,” Dr Farooq at that time had also stirred a fresh controversy when he stated that ‘those who support Modi should jump into the sea’.
“Don’t try to put words in my mouth. Kashmir is an integral part of India and we are living here,” a visibly angry Dr Farooq told reporters on Thursday outside party office here. Over the recent India and Pakistan thaw and the participation of Pakistan’s premier Mian Nawaz Sherief in the swearing in ceremony of newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NC patron and president Dr Farooq stated that it is hoped that better relations between the two countries would prevail and the same is in the interests of both the countries. He remarked further that the cordial relations between India and Pakistan are being seen with the optimistic approach. “I hope that the two countries will reach to the agreement so that the pending issues could be resolved.”
However, Dr Farooq refused to comment over the fresh controversy triggered after Congress leveled allegations against newly elevated HRD minister Siiti Irani wherein Congress accused Irani to have mentioned wrong information about her qualification. NC patron stated that he hopes that the ministers appointed by Modi will deliver goods and will work for the people of the country. “It is within the ambit of the Prime Minister who he chooses as his minister. We hope that Modi’s ministers will work for the people.” Over the meeting with the NC youth leaders, Dr Farooq started that the young leadership here is much passionate and the same must be respected and regarded. “Today’s meeting was with the youth leaders. It took place in a cordial manner. We will in future try to connect them with the senior leadership of the party.”