Senior National Conference leader and former finance minister Abdul Rahim Rathar on Thursday called for forging unity to protect interests of the state, saying that the “state is facing an edgy situation in wake of numerous onslaughts on its integrity and identity”.
Addressing workers’ convention at Bandipura,Charar-e-Sharief, Rather said: “Today, we are facing such times when we have toremain extra cautious. Today, the very identity and integrity of our state isunder threat. Never have we seen government of India making unambiguous andapparent remarks on obliteration of special status of state,” Rather saidformer Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while addressing a gathering here,had categorically affirmed to protect the special status of the state.
“But today’s BJP has a different and more radical stance.Today we have a dispensation at centre that is affront against Article 370 andArticle 35A,” he said.
While flaying the BJP-RSS for “destroying the secularvisage” of the country Rather said the great leaders like Mahata Gandhi,Jawahar Lal Nehru and Maulana Azad took immense pains and idealized a dream ofIndia where everyone was equal. “However, the present appalling situation inthe country would be traumatizing their souls,” he said.
Flaying PDP for its “colossal betrayal” of public trust, hesaid, “In a first we made an outreach and offered unconditional support to theMufti sahib in order keep BJP out of the power corridors. However our earnestoffer was turned down by PDP. What followed is history. What good was achievedby our government until 2014 was put into an abyss.”
“The past few years saw no accomplishments vis-à-visemployment generation, reduction of forces, return of power projects. On thecontrary the PDP-BJP rule saw the implementation of GST, NFSA in the state. Ourstate saw numerous onslaughts from all sides,” Rather said.
While hitting out at PDP for implementing GST in the state,he said, “They hunkered down for the sake of power and chair, not to talk ofpreserving what was left of our autonomy; PDP implemented the national foodsecurity act and GST Act thereby destroying the very fiscal autonomy of ourstate. The BJP-PDP combine severely put to distress the ordinary populace ofthe state,” Rather said.