Farooq dubs packages as hot air balloons, pooh-poohs Govt claims of development

NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah addressing the gathering during a function at Jammu on Sunday. —Excelsior/Rakesh
NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah addressing the gathering during a function at Jammu on Sunday. —Excelsior/Rakesh

Urges PM to restore 4G in J&K

Nishikant Khajuria

JAMMU, Jan 17: Describing the Central financial packages as hot air balloons, National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today pooh-poohed the Government claims of new era of development in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Instead of boasting in air about bringing rupees 28 thousand crores package, first let they explain what happened to the earlier package of Rs 80 thousand crore and where did the money go,” he said while addressing a function, organised by Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust to release the biography of its patron-in-chief Masud Ahmad Chaudhary, a retired Additional Director General of Police and ex-Vice Chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri.

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Highlighting various problems due to lack of the facilities and the harsh winter in the Union Territory, the former Chief Minister rued that even after 70 years of independence, people in J&K were facing hardships because of no connectivity and regular power supply.
He also drew attention towards continued mobile internet restrictions in Jammu Kashmir and appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore 4G mobile service in the Union Territory.
“The Prime Minister is saying that 5G is coming in India while we are deprived of 4G. May he (PM Modi) come and stay here after leaving the chair and see how we are living under 2G (service),” said Dr Farooq Abdullah.
Stating that the students are sitting in their homes and getting online classes while businessmen are also dependent on internet connectivity, the NC president appealed PM Modi to restore 4G in J&K.
“My request to the Central Government and Prime Minister is that if they are saying J&K is on the path of development , please give us 4G and 5G for the sake of God so that we can benefit and our children move forward,” he said adding that giving attention towards this issue was very important.
Farooq Abdullah also asked the Government to provide at least regular electricity supply to people before making tall claims of development and beating the drums of its success stories. “If this is the situation (no power supply) in the capital city, you can well imagine what would be the condition in rural area,” he said.
Drawing attention towards the problems being faced by people in Kashmir amid sub-zero temperature, he said there was no electricity, petrol, diesel, kerosene oil and shortage of daily use food items. “Our door is Jammu and if we can’t bring anything from here to Kashmir, where will we go?” he asked in reference to frequent closure of Jammu-Srinagar National highway and no connectivity to the Valley.
“Former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee had promised a rail link to Kashmir by 2007, which was revised to 2022 by this regime. Hope it would not extend to 2040 when I will be no more,” he said.
“I am not doing any politics. This is the present day condition in J&K. Yesterday, I received the New Year greeting card from Delhi Chief Minister and five days back a friend’s letter from abroad dispatched in November last year. I telephoned him and requested him not to post any letter in future,” he added.
Referring to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Farooq Abdullah said the virus has brought the world to its knees and showed people power of the almighty.
“People today are afraid of handshakes and hugging each other as thousands are still dying on a daily basis in various parts of the world. Honestly saying, I can’t kiss my wife what to talk of hugging her even as my heart aspires for the same,” he said in a lighter vain amidst laughter by the audience. “Vaccine has been found and only time will tell about its efficacy but I am praying for its success so that the situation gets normal,” he added.
Farooq Abdullah said people must introspect and try to understand the religion that they practice. “No religion teaches hatred. The religion is not bad but it is the human who is bad,” he said, adding every religion teaches brotherhood and to live in harmony.
“When we do not respect our religion, how will we respect the religion of others? He (God) is everywhere and in every shape. We are Muslims for namesake and are practically far away (from Islam). Till we become practical, we cannot change our destiny,” he said.
Hailing the contribution of Masud Chaudhary for the upliftment of his community, Farooq Abdullah said Gujjars are still facing poverty and disease and need to be empowered economically and educationally.
He urged the trust to translate the released Urdu biography into other languages, especially Hindi and said, “they think Urdu is a language of Muslims but do not know this is not the Muslim’s language alone. This is one of the languages in the country.”
On the occasion, Masud Chaudhary was also conferred with the “Fakhr-e-Qaum-wa-Millat” –a lifetime achievement award instituted by the Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust for his contributions in awakening of Gujjar community and establishment of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University as VC.
On virtual mood, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Jammu and Kashmir Sadar-e-Riyasat Dr Karan Singh and Ex-Governor N N Vohra also spoke on the occasion. While Mr Azad joined the gathering via video link, Mr Vohra had sent a pre-recorded audio for the occasion.