National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the party would not allow any changes in the demography of Jammu and Kashmir and any attempt to dilute the “unique identity” of the state would be resisted.
“The NC will not allow any changes in the demography ofthe state and any attempt to dilute Jammu and Kashmir’s unique identity will beresisted,” Abdullah said addressing party functionaries and workers atSaloora in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
He claimed the unique character of the state has been ascorn in the eyes of those forces that are inimical to the very identity andthe integrity of the state.
“There are forces whose sole agenda is to dilute thevery pluralistic fabric of our state. It was PDP that allowed the fascists tomake inroads in our state. Unfortunately, such forces as are inimical to theidentity of our state are using local henchmen to pursue their agenda.Themushrooming of political outfits in the Valley is also suggestive of thenefarious agenda of such forces as they want to demean and divide the voice ofthe people particularly the Muslims,” he said.
The Member of Parliament from Srinagar said, unfortunately,no powerful Muslim voice was “allowed to surface” on the politicallandscape of India and what is happening in Kashmir cannot be singled out.
“(NC founder) Sher-e-Kashmir (Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah)had prophesied that after his death, the one-man political outfits will bepropped up in every nook and corner of the state. The main agenda of theright-wing extremists is to eliminate the powerful voice of the Muslims in thestate,” he said.
The NC president said the people of the state have to make achoice now and the need of the hour is to show unity.
“The people of the state have to vote for securing ouridentity and integrity in the ensuing assembly elections. Our vote will make adifference. Each vote matters and any boycott will aggravate the problems ourstate is beset with. In the coming elections, people of the state have toreveal how passionate they are about their unique identity,” he said.