Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 17: National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah said today that war is no solution and India and Pakistan should solve their all problems through talks. He also called for internal dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir including Hurriyat Conference as mentioned in ‘Agenda of Alliance’ of PDP-BJP Government.
Speaking to reporters at party headquarters-Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan here-after addressing gathering of senior leaders, Dr Abdullah recalled that Indo-Pak Armies were in an eyeball-to-eyeball positions along the borders after Parliament attack in 2001 but nothing happened and the two countries had to resolve their issues through dialogue.
“War is not a solution to any problem. All issues can be resolved only through dialogue. India and Pakistan must follow the process of talks and shun confrontation,” he said.
Referring to the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ reached between PDP-BJP coalition Government, Farooq said it has called for talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir including the Hurriyat Conference. “The two parties must keep their word and hold the talks with stakeholders to solve unrest in Kashmir,” he added.
On his son and NC working president Omar Abdullah being stopped at New York airport in United States, Farooq said: “it was unfortunate. Earlier also, the United States had held up APJ Abdul Kalam, former President and George Fernandes, then Defence Minister, at the airports. They can’t stop the terrorists but are harassing innocent people”.
On isolation of Pakistan, Dr Abdullah said: “Pakistan has its own presence and it has backing of China too”. Moreover, he called for resolving all issues between the two countries through dialogue.
Replying to a question on Uniform Civil Code, Dr Abdullah said nothing should be thrusted on any community.
“This is not good. Every community should take its own decisions. Nothing should be thrusted on them,” he asserted.
The NC chief said that most of the problems in Kashmir stem from the alliance of PDP with the BJP, as the people have not reconciled with this scenario, especially as the former virtually fought elections against the latter making inroads in the Valley.
“The fact that the unrest in mostly South Kashmir specific is testimony to the anger of the people”, he said and asked how could a party make bonhomie with Sangh Parivar after having raised a tirade and anti BJP pitch across the Valley.
Without naming Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Dr Farooq asked, “Where have the crocodile tears gone which used to be shed during visits to homes of slain militants and where are the green robes”? He attributed deception and duplicity as root-cause of the present turmoil, regretting that the situation having been brought on rails stands derailed again.
Dr Abdullah also made a mention of the Jammu and Kashmir Opposition meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi wherein he admitted the problems in the Valley being of political in nature. “Therefore, it is all the more important to have the political dimensions of Kashmir issue are resolved”, he added.
The National Conference president recalled the promises made by New Delhi from time to time, saying had but for any forward movement the situation would have been totally different at this point of time. He said the promise made by the former Prime Minister PV Narsimha Rao about sky being the limit for autonomy proved a crude joke as New Delhi did not walk the talk.
Dr Abdullah referred to the problems being confronted by border dwellers in the wake of shelling and asked the cadre to reach out to them to demonstrate their solidarity. He also emphasized the need for maintaining unity and communal amity, saying this has been corner stone of the State’s pluralistic ethos and hallmark of NC philosophy.
“If communal amity and tranquility was at its best during most turbulent times, what has gone wrong now”, he said and warned against sowing seeds of hatred between various segments of society and regions of the State.
“In such a vicious atmosphere, the role of National Conference cadre has become more challenging and I hope that we will overcome the difficulties facing to the State”, he added.
Dr Abdullah also expressed concern over evicting a segment of population from their dwelling places, saying the fact of six to seven decades cannot be undone on the whims of any individual or any party. “They must learn to live in harmony, as inclusiveness alone is the mantra for united Jammu and Kashmir”, he added.
The National Conference president expressed anguish over colossal damages caused due to fire in Sakhnoi village of Kishtwar district, saying this is a tragedy and “we all share the pain and agony of sufferers”. He sought immediate rehabilitation of the fire victims, especially in view of ensuing winter months.
Among the prominent functionaries, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana besides Senior State Vice President Surjeet Singh Slathia, State Vice Presidents Rattan Lal Gupta and Kashmira Singh, MLA Dr Kamal Arora, former Minister Babu Rampal, former Dy Speaker Ghulam Hyder Malik, Advisor to the Party President Vijay Bakaya, former legislators, senior functionaries of Women Wing, SC/ST/OBC Cells, Youth National Conference and District Committees, Jammu Urban and Jammu Rural.