After two back-to-back terror attacks in Kulgam and Kishtwar districts of Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah said the incidents were an eye-opener for those who kept parroting that the situation in the Union Territory had normalised after the abrogation of Article 370.
“Those who keep parroting from Delhi that terrorism has ended in Jammu and Kashmir must wake up to the reality that terrorism still exists here. We must find ways to eradicate this menace,” Farooq Abdullah said while strongly condemning the terror incidents in Kulgam and Kishtwar.
Referring to the recovery of the bodies of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) from the Dachhan area of Kishtwar district on Thursday morning, Farooq Abdullah said, “Today it is Kishtwar; tomorrow, it could be some other place. Terrorism has not ended in Jammu and Kashmir.”
The National Conference president, however, asserted that there was no need to be afraid of terrorism or such incidents.
“Pakistan’s rulers are living in a fool’s paradise if they think they can snatch Kashmir through terrorism,” he asserted, adding, “Kashmir was an integral part of India; it is an integral part of India and will remain an integral part of the Indian Union.”
‘Kashmir remains integral part of India’
“Kashmir will remain an integral part of India. I do not know why Pakistan keeps raising the Kashmir issue on different international platforms,” he said.
The veteran politician suggested that Pakistan’s rulers should stop sending terrorists to Jammu and Kashmir, shun the path of confrontation and initiate dialogue with India.
“Dialogue is the only means to resolve all problems,” he said, drawing the attention of Pakistani rulers towards the Iran-America war and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“What have these countries achieved through these wars? Nothing except deaths and destruction. They have now realised the need to initiate dialogue,” he said.
Dr Farooq Abdullah, whose party, the National Conference, is part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, refused to comment on Belonging: A Journey of Love, the recently released book by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
“The book was released a couple of days ago. I have not read it, so I will not comment on it,” he said.
Seeking to clarify his recent controversial remarks at a rally in Baramulla, Farooq Abdullah said his statement had been misquoted and only a part of it had gone viral.
“I highlighted the atrocities committed by Pakistani raiders in 1947 against innocent people in Kashmir,” he said.
Explaining his remarks, he added, “I reminded the people of Baramulla how Pakistani raiders looted and assaulted people in Kashmir. A Christian doctor couple who were running a hospital in Baramulla were brutally killed, while nuns working at the hospital were raped by Pakistani raiders.”
Notably, on October 24, Farooq Abdullah triggered a political controversy with his alleged pro-Pakistan remarks at a rally in Baramulla district of Kashmir Valley.
During the rally, Farooq Abdullah reportedly said that Pakistan was protecting Kashmir. He also expressed little hope of any relief for Kashmiris from the Centre and urged them to have the courage to confront Delhi.
Abdullah had stated that Pakistan had helped keep the Kashmir issue alive on international platforms.
“Our neighbour is constantly after them. He goes everywhere saying that the Kashmir issue has not been resolved. He is protecting us; otherwise, their intentions are not good,” he had said.