The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Saturday denounced militants and the separatist leadership for urging people to boycott polls and said they want to “keep pot boiling in Kashmir as they make fortunes out of people’s miseries.”
Urging people to participate in the upcoming urban local bodies and Panchayat polls, Farooq said boycotting polls won’t help anybody. “It won’t resolve Kashmir issue and neither India nor Pakistan can benefit from it. It is for the betterment and development of people of the state.”
Apparently referring to militants and separatists he said there are some people who have called for poll boycott. “But I want to inform you that these people are making fortune out of people’s miseries. They want to keep the pot boiling as it suits their interests.”
“This situation has led to colossal losses, our economy is badly impacted. Look at our hotels they are empty, tourists are not coming to Kashmir, our famous tourism destination Gulmarg is empty, businesses are suffering losses,” he said adding that only those who are getting benefitted from this mess want people to boycott polls. “They won’t’ let these polls take place as they don’t want peace to prevail in the Valley.”
Farooq also hit out at the Indian leadership blaming them for their attempts to abrogate Article 35-A. “What is the need to abrogate it. People feel upset because of these attempts by New Delhi, which leads to uncertainty in the valley. Delhi has to win the hearts and minds of people,” he said.
The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned to January next year the hearing on a clump of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35 A, which provides special rights and privileges to the natives of Jammu and Kashmir, after taking note of submissions of the Centre and the state government that there was a law and order problem in the state.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra was informed by Attorney General K K Venugopal and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir government respectively that in view of the impending eight-phased local body elections and law and order situation in the state, the hearing be deferred.
While urging people to participate in polls, Dr. Farooq said that if the people of JK want their future bright, they should participate in elections.
“This election is important for future if you want to make future of children bright then they should participate in it. If Kashmiri youth want to make their future we have to make them competent to compete with youth of India,” he said adding that “how can your youth compete when our schools are closed.”
“I remember time when state employees wanted hartals so that they could remain in their homes. First we have to take state out of this quagmire,” he said adding that time will come when India and Pakistan when they have good relations.