Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party president and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the youth of the state have a key role to play in protecting the interests of the state.
‘The need of the hour calls for active engagement of youthin state politics,” Farooq said addressing party workers and functionarieshere.
“The old guard in politics has done its bid now thesituation calls for the active involvement of youth in politics. Today the veryexistence of our identity is facing onslaught from all sides. The state isheading towards a crucial trial. The forces as are inimical to our identity andspecial constitutional position are trying and will speed up its efforts todivide us,” Farooq said.
“The powers that be will leave no stone unturned toobliterate our identity. Our enemies want us divided, our unity threatens them,and it frustrates their machinations. However, if at this juncture we don’tstrike unity then the coming generation will never forgive us. At the moment itis very identity of our state that is at stake. There are forces who arecontriving to change the demography of our state. It is imperative for theyouth to come forward and respond to the challenges, our ill-fated state is facing.”
“The transition from old to young is necessary; we havea sprawling population of youth, the need of the hour is too tap itspotential,” he said adding, “once forthcoming government with Omar Sahib in thevanguard of it, will ensure greater justice for youth.”
“We will empower youth by providing them safe spaces topursue their vocations. Addressing employment will crown the agenda of theforthcoming government led by Omar Sahib. We cannot think of moving forwardwithout feeling the pulse of youth, we have to make amends to the wrongscommitted by successive government since 2015,” he said.
On the occasion PDP founding member, district PresidentPulwama and former Minister in previous coalition government Muhammad KhalilBandh joined National Conference. He had won Pulwama assembly constituency forPDP in 2002, 2008, and 2014 assembly elections. Farooq welcomed the new entrantinto the party fold. “His joiningthe party has come at a time when forces in Delhi doesn’t want us united,”he said.
“I appreciate the moral integrity of Bandh Sahib. He hastaken a judicious decision at a time when forces as are inimical to state arecontriving to divide our voice. Posterity will applaud the decision of Bandhsahib for strengthening the efforts for the protection of the special status ofthe state. I welcome him and I am hopeful that his coming will strengthen theparty at grass root level. It is indeed a lovely return; it comes in the wakeof efforts to unite the state against the forces as want to divide our voice.”
Farooq while underscoring the need for uniting the effortsto end the trend of drug abuse among youth said, “the need of the hour callsfor joint societal efforts to tackle with the menace. The issue has to beaddressed with all seriousness jointly by various stakeholders that include thegovernment as well.”
“But the greater responsibility lies on the shouldersof schools, parents and the community leaders. The need of the hour calls forinclusive policy against the menace focusing mainly on three components:policing, de- addiction, and prevention. The situation should be immediatelytackled with a brawny response before it morphs into a much diresituation,” he said.
“It would be better if the state government comes upwith an inclusive policy against the menace of drug addiction and narcoticsmuggling. The policy frame work should include the inputs of health, policeand education departments. Various civil society groups should also be taken onboard before evolving such a state level strategy against the menace.”
“The new entrant into the party Muhammad Khalil Bandwhile addressing the workers said, “Our state is facing tremendous onslaught onits identity. I am of the thought that only NC can salvage the state towardssafe shores. It is NC only that can meet the challenges our state is facing.”
Among others party’s general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar,Provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, south zone president Dr Bashir Veeri,YNC provincial president Salman Ali Sagar, Political Advisor to party PresidentMushtaq Guroo, Ghulam Mohiudin Mir, Showkat Mir, Pir Muhammad Hussain, Qafir UrRahman, Sheikh Rafi, Dr Muhammad Shafi, Dr Ghulam Nabi, Javaid Rahim Bhat alsowelcomed the new entrant into the party fold.