‘Will win next Assembly polls’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 31: National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today expressed regret that his party didn’t participate in the 2018 Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
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The National Conference had not participated in the Panchayat polls held in September 2018 and also boycotted the Block Development Council (BDC) polls held in 2019 after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Speaking at the Parliamentary Outreach Programme for strengthening Parliamentary Raj Institutions (PRIs), Abdullah exuded confidence that soon a government will be formed in J&K which will make officials answerable to people.
Requesting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who was present on the dais, for providing security to Panchayat leaders, Abdullah said they are being targeted by terrorists.
“The politicians who are standing with the country are target of the terrorists and it is for the country to protect them,” he said.
Talking about local polls held in September 2018, the National Conference leader said, “I regret that my party didn’t participate in Panchayat polls”.
Abdullah expressed his anguish that government officials of the Jammu and Kashmir administration “don’t pick phones as if some ghost is hanging upon them”.
He requested Sinha to instruct officials to answer phone calls of people.
“Soon a Government will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir which will make government officials answerable to the people,” Abdullah said.
Meanwhile, Dr Abdulla asserted his party will win the next assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, indicating for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 that his party would participate in the polls.
“We will win and I am telling you this with authority that if they conduct polls in a free and fair manner, then the National Conference will be the biggest party here,” he told reporters on the sidelines of ‘Parliamentary outreach programme.
He said the Union Territory still faces militancy and “God knows what will happen in the future”.
Abdullah requested Lieutenant Governor Sinha to provide security to Panchayat leaders, saying they are being targeted by militants.
“One of the most important things that we have to look after is the security of these panchayat members because they will be the first target (of militants). Politicians will be targeted. We are targeted anyways. (Those) who stand with the nation will have to face those (threats). Do not run away, God is the only protector,” he said.
The NC leader said that it is very important to provide security to political activists as they have to work on the ground.
“Recently, members of the BJP have been killed, another one from the Apni Party. God knows what will happen in the coming days. If a panchayat member or a District Development Council member or a political party has to work, then their security is very important. Otherwise, how will they work and reach their areas,” he said.
Pointing to Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, who was in the audience, Abdullah said while he understands that security cannot be provided to everyone, “but you will have to do something about it”.
“Yesterday, a CPI leader told me that he faces a threat and there is deficiency in his security. So, before he is killed, care must be taken. If we are standing with the country, then it is also the responsibility of the country to take care of our security,” he said.
Abdullah’s remarks received a huge round of applause from the members of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Asked whether he sees any improvement in Jammu and Kashmir after August 5, 2019 – when the Centre revoked the erstwhile state’s special status, the NC president said the people should judge themselves.
“You should see yourselves what changes have come. Has our situation become better, has any progress been achieved, has there been any development, you have to see for yourselves. If I say something, then they will say that he is from opposition and will say what the opposition parties are saying,” he said.
To a question about the impact of the situation in Afghanistan, Abdullah said the situation was no better in any of the neighbouring countries of India. “Where in our neighbourhood is the situation better? How is the situation in Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Maldives? If we say the situation in any of our neighbouring country is normal, no it is not,” he said.
“The impact of the Taliban will surely be there somewhere. How much it will be I do not know and where it will be, how much its impact will be on America or Russia or China, I do not know,” Abdullah said.
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