Says NC will continue struggle for constitutional, democratic rights
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that nations inevitably face hardships and trials, but such challenges are tests of faith, resilience, and perseverance, and urged the people not to lose hope, adding that difficulties are temporary and eventually give way to better times.
Addressing a grand National Conference convention held at Naseem Bagh to mark the 26th death anniversary of Madar-e-Meherban Begum Akbar Jehan, Dr Farooq said that the National Conference has consistently appealed to every government at the Centre to ensure justice for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. However, whenever the Centre had the opportunity, it weakened Article 370 instead of honouring the constitutional relationship with the region.
Referring to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, Dr Abdullah recalled that PM Rao had publicly assured the world that the shortcomings relating to Article 370 would be addressed and had famously declared that, within the framework of the Constitution of India, “Sky is the Limit” in granting greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. He further said that during a meeting with the Prime Minister in 2021, he had candidly remarked that there was a trust deficit between New Delhi and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Although assurances were given that the distance between Delhi and Kashmir would be bridged, no meaningful progress has been made in that direction to this day.
Dr Abdullah asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is the crown of India and its people deserve dignity and respect. He said that successive promises made to the people were repeatedly broken. “We are not asking for anything outside the Constitution of India. We are only demanding the restoration of our dignity, constitutional safeguards, and democratic rights,” he said.
The National Conference President reiterated that his party has never surrendered in the face of adversity and remains steadfast in its struggle for the rights of the people. He described the National Conference as a party of the poor, the marginalized, and the common people, committed to protecting their interests at every stage.
Addressing political leaders whom he accused of acting at the behest of New Delhi, Dr Abdullah said that if they truly cared for the people of Kashmir, they should abandon the politics of subservience, warning that a day would come when they would no longer be accepted by the people of this land.
Praising the performance of the present National Conference government, Dr Abdullah said that despite severe constraints, limited powers, and numerous obstacles, the government has delivered exemplary public service and introduced a new direction in governance across various sectors. He said that National Conference legislators are working tirelessly to address public grievances, even though political opponents refuse to acknowledge these achievements.
Dr Abdullah also alleged that attempts were once again being made to weaken the National Conference through political horse-trading. Recalling the events of 1984, he said that those who participated in the politics of defections disappeared from the political landscape within two years and are remembered by no one today.
Reaffirming the party’s commitment, Dr Farooq Abdullah vowed that the National Conference would continue its struggle to alleviate the hardships of the people and work tirelessly for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional, democratic, and political rights.
Earlier, special prayers, Quran Khawani, Fateha Khawani, and floral tributes were offered at the mausoleums of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Madar-e-Meherban Begum Akbar Jehan. The prayers were led by noted Islamic scholar Dr Prof. Mohammad Tayyub Kamili, Imam of Alamdar-e-Kashmir. A separate commemorative function was held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, where party leaders paid rich tributes to Madar-e-Meharban and recalled her historic contributions. Similar commemorative programmes were organized across Jammu and Kashmir, including Leh, Kargil, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Gool, Ramban, Zanskar, and several other places.