SRINAGAR: Asserting that autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir was non-negotiable, opposition National Conference president and former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday asked the central government to rollback all central laws extended to the State after 1953.
“The time has come to reverse the extension of all central laws extended to J&K post-1953 through pliant regimes that were installed in J&K through covert and undemocratic machinations to disempower the people of the State and rob them of their political identity,” Abdullah said while addressing a public meeting in Uri in north Kashmir today.
He said the erosion of State’s autonomy is the genesis of the political problem in Kashmir and it has created a sense of disenchantment and disillusionment among the people.
“It was this sense of betrayal, disenchantment and disillusionment that has fuelled the eruption of turmoil and unrest in Kashmir at regular intervals in our history and New Delhi needs to acknowledge it,” he said.
Abdullah, who is also Srinagar MP, said the restoration of autonomy to J&K was non-negotiable.
“People of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are the rightful and primary stakeholders and their political identity, honour and sense of dignity is supreme and no power on earth can rob them of their right to decide their political future. Our people have suffered immensely and rendered unimaginable sacrifices but never compromised on their aspirations and sentiments. Our people won’t surrender before achieving their goal of an acceptable political resolution that takes into account their aspirations,” he said.
Reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his speech on August 15 in which he had underlined the need to embrace the people of Kashmir, Abdullah said, “PM should now take concrete steps to engage with the people of Kashmir with full dignity and respect for their sentiments in a sustained effort to resolve the Kashmir Issue.”
“It is against the interests of both India and Pakistan to keep the Kashmir Issue unresolved and has staggering economic and political costs for both neighbours. If we want to usher the subcontinent into an era of peace, prosperity and economic progress – it is imperative to resolve the Kashmir issue as per the sentiments and the aspirations of its people”, he added.
Abdullah, who has been the three time chief minister of the state, accused ruling PDP of sellout over crucial issue of the State’s fiscal autonomy and described the extension of GST to J&K “as a plot to deprive the State people of their political honour”.
Abdullah had last week said Accession of J&K with Indian union was based on Instrument of Accession (IoA) and demanded restoration of internal autonomy to the State saying it was the only viable solution to decades old Kashmir problem.
He had also stated that PaK is a Pakistani territory and J&K belongs to India and the status won’t change even if they fight unlimited wars.
Abdullah had also stated that “independent Kashmir or Azadi” was not an option for Kashmir as it was landlocked.