Accusing RSS and BJP of wanting to ‘change’ the ‘demography’ of Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah said any attempt to harm Article 370 and Article 35-A will ‘cast’ a shadow on the accession of the state to India.
Abdullah, who is the NC candidate for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, said in Srinagar, “the ensuing Parliamentary elections will provide an opportunity to keep such forces out of power as are inimical to the constitutional safe guards of our identity and integrity”.
“Throughout the chequered history of our party, we have symbolized the unity and integrity of our state. NC has given immense sacrifices to protect the special constitutional disposition of our state within the Union of India. Now we are facing onslaughts from all sides, the RSS-BJP and their cronies in the state are trying their level best to do away with the Art 370, Art 35 A with a sole purpose to change the demography of our state, which is the only Muslim majority state of India,” Mr Abdullah alleged while addressing a rally at Lavay Pura in Batamalloo constituency.
He said, however, the parliamentary elections afford a chance to keep such forces out of power. “We should avail this opportunity and not let this pass by unutilized. The coming generations will never forgive us if we don’t show resoluteness in trouncing the machinations of communal forces that are bend to dissolve our unique identity,” he alleged.
Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi squandered the precious mandate of people, he alleged, “PM Modi had promised to deliver on various issues concerning the nation during his 2014 election campaign. But he has aggravated the problems to an extent that will take decades to solve. Modi Government presents a tale of failures and misgovernment. People have now made it a point to give befitting reply to Modi for his failures and lies. ”
“Having been failed to deliver on key issues that the country is facing, the Modi-led BJP government would create a war-like situation in the country to subvert the attention of people from the real issues affecting the poor, farmers and the labor class,” he alleged.
Underscoring the importance of Lok Sabha elections, Dr Abdullah said, “Today it is an opportune movement to clean the country and the state from the communal yolk. Our fight is with the communal forces. This time you have to cast vote for securing India’s secular visage, and in particular the very identity and integrity of our state.”
Alleging that no section of Indian society is happy with Mr Modi, he said, “The farmers, the house wives, the youth; every one of them is feeling betrayed. The farm distress is at all time high. The mothers and sisters across India are finding it difficult to run their households. The situation is no different in Kashmir.”
“The miseries our state is fraught with in terms of unemployment, underdevelopment and insecurity have soared up during the misrule of PM Modi. What good was achieved by Omar Abdullah-led Government in terms of development and peacemaking was put into a chasm. However, it is never late, now that we have witnessed the misrule, corruption and nepotism of PDP-BJP with our eyes, we should not let them come close to power corridors. Our vote will decide as to what should be the recourse of our state vis-à-vis development for next half a decade. Besides that a strong voice from Kashmir in parliament will ensure that our woes are brought before the country,” he alleged.
