Srinagar, Sept 8: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah Wednesday said that nothing would change in Jammu & Kashmir. He was speaking in the context of New Delhi mulling some political package in the wake of turmoil in the valley, which has witnessed 69 killings by police and para-military CRPF since June 11.

 “Nothing is going to change in Kashmir. Be patient and strong. No storm is going to occur (in Kashmir). Things will settle down soon and peace will return to the Valley,” Dr Farooq, who is also the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, told party leaders and workers during his brief address after paying tributes to his father and former Chief Minister, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, on his 28th death anniversary at his mausoleum in Naseem Bagh here.

 The statement by the former Chief Minister comes at a time when both state Government and Government of India are desperate for peace in the Valley as Hurriyat Conference (G) led by Syed Ali Geelani has set five conditions for reviewing the ongoing agitation.

 The senior Abdullah along with his son and Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, arrived at the mausoleum this morning to pay tributes to Sheikh.

 However, the father-son duo left the place soon without talking to media. “I am not going to comment on anything,” Dr Abdullah responded when asked by a reporter about his views on the unrest in Kashmir and way to solve it.
 Though Omar did not speak to media on the occasion, he issued a statement later paying tribute to his grand father while recalling his contributions.

 "It was his tireless effort and leadership that galvanized the oppressed people of the state to rise against autocracy and injustice," Omar said in the statement.

 "The best tributes to the late leader will be to follow his footsteps and renew our commitment on the path of communal brotherhood, non-violence and equitable development of all regions," he added.

 On the occasion, Dr Abdullah released a book titled “Role of National Conference in politics of Jammu and Kashmir” authored by Dr Muhammad Amin Malik.

 Other senior National Conference leaders including Ali Muhammad Sagar and Abdul Rahim Rather were also present.

 However, unlike in the past, there was thin presence of party workers on the occasion amid strict curfew imposed by authorities in view of the prevailing law and order situation.

 The authorities had put in strict security restriction in the entire area to avoid any untoward incident even as some low rung leaders of National Conference were asking the party workers to remain cautious of “trouble makers” who might have mixed with the gathering.

 Police had erected security checking gates on the spot to frisk people before letting them in the mausoleum. Even some low rung party leaders were assigned to identify the workers before letting them in.

 “It is an order from party General Secretary and we have to obey it,” an NC leader announced on the loudspeaker.

 Since June 11, 69 civilians, mostly youth and children, have been killed by police and CRPF at different places across the Valley to quell pro-freedom protests which refuse to die down.

 Geelani earlier this week asked New Delhi to accept his five “minimum” conditions for reviewing the ongoing protest agitation. The conditions include start of demilitarization, revocation of special powers to armed forces, release of political prisoners, guarantee from Prime Minister that no further killings or arrests would take place and conviction, under war crimes, of troopers and policemen involved in civilian killings.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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