*Meets Guv, reviews situation
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 16: Asking former alliance partners PDP and BJP to come forward without further delay to form the Government in the State and work for the betterment of the people, former Chief Minister and president National Conference (NC), Dr Farooq Abdullah today said that people of the State can’t afford the present political uncertainty.
Talking to reporters at the sidelines of a book release function here, the NC patriarch said that both the parties should come forward and form the Government without any delay now and end the political instability in the State.
Dr Abdullah said the people of the State who have suffered a lot want solution to their problems. “The key to power is in the hands of PDP and BJP and right now they should take a decision as the State can’t afford this uncertainty anymore and if they failed then NC would see’’, he added.
Dr Abdullah, who also met Governor, N N Vohra here this evening, for one hour from 6 pm to 7 pm, discussed the prevailing political situation with him as well as welfare of the masses.
Responding to questions of media on the proposed meeting of legislators of two divided parts of Jammu and Kashmir in Islamabad, Dr Abdullah said that any meeting is important in defusing the prevailing tension between the two countries so the legislators meet is also important.
He said “there is no problem in holding such a meet if the solution will be defused as I am of the firm belief that borders are not going to change and Legislators from here and there should talk’’.
On Indian Government’s demand to Pakistan regarding handing over of Mastermind of terrorism and brain behind the recent Pathankot Fidayeen attack Azhar Masood to India, the veteran NC leader said “it is good if they can seek his return, but only God knows when he will be handed over to India’’. “I had totally opposed the release of Masood in 1999 but no body heard me at that time’’, he added.
Earlier, addressing the function, Dr Abdullah said that J&K is in a crucial stage and both the parties should form the Government as they must understand that it is not the chair but the people who are most important. “If the two parties love people they should talk to each other and find out ways on Government formation’’, he added.
Dr Abdullah, while strongly advocating for continuance of Indo-Pak peace talks said that some powers in both the countries don’t want that bilateral ties should improve. “The Azhar Masood is a small thing in this regard and there are bigger forces than him. Pakistan is in the hands of military also which rules the roost there’’, he added.
Dr Abdullah said that it is not India who created Bangladesh but it came into existence after the struggle of the people of that country who fought against the atrocities of West Pakistan and India extended support to them.
Recalling the speech of former Prime Minster, Atal Behari Vajpayee whom Dr Abdullah had accompanied to Tangdhar to address a rally there during his tenure as PM, he said the former Prime Minister had made it clear during the rally that “we can change friends but not neighbors and Pakistanis were hearing him across Neelam river’’.
He said both countries wanted that talks should go ahead but the vested interests did Pathankot and they can do more attacks to derail the process. “But one day will certainly come when these forces will be defeated and people of both the parts of Jammu and Kashmir will take tea together’’, he added.
Giving credit to his party of holding political process in the State during 1996 when no body dared to take the flag of their respective parties in hand as the terrorism was on peak in Kashmir, Dr Abdullah said by doing so NC opened a new way for the other political parties in the State. The PDP and BJP were no where in picture in Kashmir during that time, he added.
Exuding confidence that the day will come soon when NC will bounce back to power in the State, he said God is with them.
Dr Abdullah said that people of nation irrespective of their religion and regions should love each other to make the nation strong. He said by dividing people among communities nothing can be achieved.
Earlier, addressing the NC workers during the day Dr Abdullah asked Pakistan to reign in terror for lasting peace in the region while bating strongly for Indo-Pak dialogue to normalise relations between the neighbouring nations.
“Islamabad must rein in terror ranks for lasting peace in the region,” Abdullah said.
“India and Pakistan had no option but to talk… Unless tackled, peace inimical elements will continue to cast shadow over normalization process between the two neighbouring countries,” the former Union Minister said.
Emphasizing on the need for carrying forward the dialogue process, he recalled the observations of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, made on the banks of Kishen Ganga in Tangdhar, that friends can be changed, not neighbours.
The two nations, the National Conference President said, cannot wish away each other, therefore Islamabad and New Delhi must take ahead the current initiative.
On the political uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said that the State is passing through a difficult phase.
Asking the party cadre to close their ranks for meeting challenges faced by the State, he said the NC has braved all obstacles courageously with active support of the people.
“A strong National Conference is answer to all the problems confronted to the State”, he said.
He described those years as difficult and recited a famous couplet, ‘Mein akela hi chala tha janbe manzil, log milte gaye karwaan banta gaya’.
The former Chief Minister also emphasized the need for strengthening bonds of amity and unity, and said the State cannot progress unless equal opportunities of progress and development were made available to all, irrespective of caste, creed, colour and religion.
“Any attempt to divide society in bits and pieces on the basis of religion is detrimental for its harmonious growth,” he said and dwelt over certain recent unfortunate developments across the country.
He recalled his meeting with Narendra Modi at a function in Gujarat in 2011 wherein he had invited the attention of participants towards strengthening secularism for larger interests of the country.
“I had told Modi that I want to see the day in my life when I would look in his (Modi’s) eyes and would be able to see my Allah, and when he (Modi) looks in my eyes, he will see his Ram,” he said.
Abdullah said that peoples’ aspirations hold paramount importance in democratic polity and the moment ruling elite suffers from the mistaken belief of being ‘kings’ they get distanced from the masses.
“NC firmly believes that people are the fountain head of power,” he said, adding that with this as the core of his party’s philosophy, a major stride was taken in 1996 to steer Jammu and Kashmir on the path of democracy.
Mentioning a tragic road mishap in Udhampur district which claimed 11 lives, Abdullah said corruption had hollowed the system.
He attributed growing road accidents to traffic mismanagement and overloading and said these should be addressed on a priority for saving lives.
Earlier, the National Conference president visited the residences of Des Raj and Kehar Singh, two prominent party workers, at Katra and Udhampur to condole their demise and also prayed for peace for the departed souls.
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