Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 5: National Conference president and Lok Sabha member from Srinagar, Dr Farooq Abdullah today called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government to devise sound policy on Kashmir saying their Kashmir policy has been swinging like pendulum.
Addressing a public meeting at Tangdar in Kupwara district today, Dr Abdullah rued the BJP Government’s Kashmir policy.
“Ever since the Modi led Government has assumed power, their Kashmir policy has been swinging like pendulum. Appointment of Interlocutor (Dineshwar Sharma) is itself mire in controversies. While Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has described Sharma as an Interlocutor, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh has designated him as a mere spokesperson. When the mandate given to Sharma is not clearly specified, then what is the fun having deliberations with him’’?, he asked
Abdullah reiterated that restoration of autonomy was the only way forward to resolve Kashmir issue.
“Government of India (GoI) should devise a sound Kashmir policy. I have very little expectation from this new Interlocutor on J&K,” Dr Abdullah, who was recently re-elected as the president of main opposition in the State NC, said.
“Like it has been done before, he (the Interlocutor) will come and meet people. In 2010, then UPA Government appointed a group of interlocutors who visited the State and had detailed discussions with every section here. The process took more than two years and after they were done with meeting people, a report was compiled. What happened to that report? Did the Government discuss that report in any forum including Parliament? No,” Dr Abdullah, who is on a four-day tour to border areas in Kupwara, said.
He alleged that instead the report of previous Interlocutors has been thrown into a dust bin somewhere in North Block.
“It was followed by a delegation comprising Parliamentari-ans, who visited Kashmir. What happened to that delegation and their recommendations? Nothing happened. So I expect nothing to happen now as well,” he added.
Describing autonomy as core of the party’s political agenda and a way forward towards resolution of the political issue of the State, Dr Farooq said, “Our stand on resolving the issue of J&K politically is loud and clear which is the restoration of pre 1953 situation to the State.”
Asserting that New Delhi was bound to make provisions to grant autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Abdullah said, “This was a guarantee that time and again has been clarified with number of deputations and representatives of the Centre. Therefore for upholding the political dignity and rights of the people of J&K, restoration of Autonomy is a must.”
Attacking the PDP-led Government in the State for its alleged submissiveness to BJP, Dr Abdullah said, “It’s a shame that an elected CM has to take dictations from lower rung BJP party functionaries who come from outside and dictate everything from governance to decision making. They infact are the de facto CMs of this State.”
The rally was also addressed by several other senior National Conference leaders including Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, party vice president, Nasir Aslam Wani, provincial president for Kashmir, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, district president and Kafeel-ur-Rehman. They highlighted initiatives taken by the previous National Conference led Government in mitigating sufferings of border dwellers.