Like farmers, we may have to make sacrifices, says Farooq Abdullah

BY REPORTER STAFF

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said that we are ready to make any sacrifice for the cause of Article 370, 35A and full statehood. Addressing the youth wing of the National Conference, Farooq Abdullah said that the farmers demonstrated for 11 months, more than 700 farmers were killed. The central government withdrew three agricultural laws after the sacrifice of the farmers. We may also have to make similar sacrifices to take back our rights.

The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19 announced a decision to repeal agricultural laws passed last year to ease rules for the sale, price fixation and storage of crops. On November 29, the first day of the ongoing winter session of Parliament, a bill to repeal agricultural laws was passed.

On the same patron we may have to make the same sacrifice to get our rights back.  Abdullah said, ‘Remember this, we have promised to get back (Article) 370, 35-A and statehood and we are ready to make any sacrifice.’

He said that the National Conference, however, is not against brotherhood and does not support violence. The Center revoked the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into two union territories on August 5, 2019.

On how the families of two civilians killed in the recent Hyderpora encounter and operation forced the administration to return their bodies, Abdullah said it was possible because people showed unity. They demanded that the body of another person, Amir Magre, who was killed in the encounter, should also be returned to his relatives.

The National Conference chief said, “Three innocent people were killed (in Hyderpora encounter). When people raised their voice, they (administration) returned the bodies so that their families could bury them. This can happen only through unity.

He said, ‘But the body of a person is still not returned to his family. How many innocent people would they have killed like this? We will hold them accountable. He (God) will also hold them accountable and no one will be able to escape.

On Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks about the increase in tourism in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah said when it comes to the Union Territory, “as tourism is everything”. He said, You promised 50,000 jobs, where are they? Rather you are destroying the jobs of our people.