Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, attended the 'Panchayat Aaj Tak Jammu Kashmir' session on 'How Will the Government be Formed?'. Dr. Abdullah spoke openly on various topics ranging from the bail of Engineer Rashid, the Kandahar plane hijacking, to Rahul Gandhi's stance on Article 370. On the topic of a new Kashmir, he said that saying everything is safe here isn't true; one should go to Downtown and ask people how they are doing.
Speaking on the reduction of stone-pelting and strikes, and the changes in circumstances, he noted the presence of military personnel everywhere, which wasn't the case before. Reflecting on his tenure as Chief Minister, he addressed questions about promises to reinstate Article 370 and 35A, stating that since India gained independence, there has always been a desire to remove these provisions. He compared the struggle for these articles to the country's freedom fight, asserting that they too will reclaim these articles one day.
Dr. Abdullah emphasized that he never suggested having a dialogue with Pakistan, referencing former Prime Ministers Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, who initiated talks. He remarked that during their time, the Amarnath Yatra used to take place peacefully without so much military presence, while today, people come and go like prisoners, unable to roam freely.
He highlighted the plight of innocent children in jails and criticized the government for not following up on the Prime Minister's promise to form a committee. He lamented that while the G-20 meeting showed a rosy picture, in reality, nothing significant happened, and ambassadors were confined to hotels without experiencing the true state of affairs.
On the issue of terrorism, Dr. Abdullah stated that the situation had been brought under control during Umar's time, but it has resurfaced again. He questioned the purpose of Article 370's abrogation if terrorism persists. Discussing an attack on pilgrims in Shivkhori, he noted that terrorism was now coming from various sources. He urged people to visit villages and ask about their conditions, referencing a 1998 resolution and Narasimha Rao's 1996 promise that the sky was the limit, but independence was not on the agenda — something he never advocated for.
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Farooq Abdullah on Engineer Rashid's Bail
On Engineer Rashid's release, Farooq Abdullah sarcastically congratulated Delhi for initially releasing him and then receiving letters of support from their state's president Raina. He questioned the legitimacy of labeling independents as BJP's proxies, arguing that the loudest sentiment was for independence from India, something that should be acknowledged. He remarked that when the children demanded freedom, it was ignored at that time.
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Farooq Abdullah on the Kandahar Plane Hijack
Reflecting on the IC814 plane hijacking, the former CM stated that the then-government released three terrorists, which has had dire consequences visible in today's terrorism. He noted that he had advised against it but was ignored. He criticized continuous mistakes, proclaiming they believe they can strengthen India this way. He also mentioned that these terrorists were sitting in Pakistan, and questioned why talks with China continued despite their seizure of Indian land. Vajpayee had said that while friends could change, neighbors couldn't. Healthy relations foster development, while hostility weakens growth—advice from their own leader.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah passionately expressed his views on the complex political and social state of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing the need for thoughtful actions and policies to truly foster peace and progress in the region.
