‘Pakistan’s efforts keeping Kashmiris safe’: Farooq Abdullah questions India’s intentions towards J&K

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday claimed that Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to raise the Kashmir issue at international forums were helping protect the people of Jammu and Kashmir, while alleging that the Indian government’s intentions towards Kashmiris were not “right”.

Addressing a convention of National Conference workers in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, Abdullah credited Pakistan with bringing the concerns of Kashmiris to international attention.

“Pakistan is going to many places and talking about Kashmiris. That is why the people of Jammu and Kashmir are being saved. Otherwise, India’s intentions towards Kashmiris are not right,” he said.

The remarks by the veteran politician, whose party heads the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, came amid his continuing criticism of the Centre over the delay in restoring statehood and what he described as the marginalisation of the region’s elected administration.

Abdullah has repeatedly accused the BJP-led central government of failing to honour commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of the region’s special constitutional status in August 2019.

Farooq Abdullah accuses Centre of ‘step-motherly’ treatment

Last week, the three-time chief minister criticised the Centre for what he described as its discriminatory approach towards Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that the region continued to be denied its rightful political and administrative powers.

“J-K has been subjected to stepmotherly treatment by the BJP government. First, our special status was revoked without seeking the people’s consent and the historic state was demoted into two Union territories, while J-K’s statehood continues to remain in suspended animation,” Abdullah said in a statement.

His criticism centred on the Centre’s August 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370, which had granted special constitutional status to Jammu and Kashmir, and reorganise the former state into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The National Conference has consistently demanded the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, arguing that the present administrative arrangement limits the authority of the democratically elected government.

‘No Progress’ on statehood restoration

Abdullah also accused the Centre of failing to fulfil assurances regarding the restoration of statehood, despite the passage of two years since the Assembly elections.

He maintained that commitments had been made both in Parliament and before the Supreme Court that Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood would be restored following the electoral process.

“However, even two years after the elections, no progress has been made in this direction,” he said.

The National Conference leader argued that the continued delay had undermined the democratic aspirations of the people and left the elected administration operating with limited powers.

He further alleged that the Jammu and Kashmir government had not been granted even the administrative authority normally available to elected governments in Union territories.

Abdullah also criticised the functioning of the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, accusing it of repeatedly interfering with the decisions and responsibilities of the elected government.

“The Lieutenant Governor’s administration leaves no opportunity to interfere in the functioning of the democratically elected government and create obstacles in its work,” he said.

The former chief minister maintained that the existing arrangement had created difficulties for the elected administration in exercising its responsibilities.