J&K Polls: Farooq Abdullah Jabs Centre On 'Peace' Claim, Says Article 370 Abrogation Failed To Curb Terrorism

NC President Farooq Abdullah criticized the government's claims of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir and demanded the restoration of statehood and the removal of armed troops.

In a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government's claims that normalcy had returned to Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah said peace should mean there are no armed troops on the streets. Abdullah also advocated for the restoration of the region's statehood in a TV interview ahead of the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. 

"How many troops have you got here? How many forces? Go and walk on the streets and see how well they are armed. Is that peace? Peace should be without these troops around," the National Conference said, during an interview with India Today TV.

In a dig at Jammu and Kashmir's Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, the former Chief Minister called him the 'Viceroy of Delhi'. "I want full statehood. Immediately. Why should we be under the Viceroy of Delhi? He can order anything. He can change anything," Abdullah said, as per the report. 

When quizzed about NC's pre-poll alliance with Congress for the Assembly elections, Abdullah said it was not a compulsion but the need of the hour for the development of Jammu and Kashmir and restoration of statehood to the union territory. "They have downsized us. Ever since India became independent, I have never known that any state was made into a Union Territory other than Jammu and Kashmir," he said. 

NC and Congress are fighting the J&K assembly elections in alliance. As per the seat-sharing arrangement, NC would field candidates in 52 constituencies and the Congress on 31. Both NC and Congress have left two seats, one for CPI M in the Valley and the other for Panthers Party in the Jammu division. The two alliance partners could not reach any agreement on 5 seats of Banihal, Nagrota, Doda and Bhaderwah in the Jammu division and Sopore in the Valley. Both parties will field candidates on these five seats and engage in a ‘friendly contest’.

The 88-year-old leader also slammed the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 which provided a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and said, "I would like to ask them (Central government) if they were saying that Article 370 was to blame for terrorism in Jammu and Kasmir. Have they controlled terrorism? It's been five years till now that they had total control over the state."

The veteran politician also accused the BJP of trying the divide the country on communal lines and said, "My problem is in the context of the things that they are now doing. The way they are trying to separate people on a religious basis."

When asked about Omar Abdullah's decision to contest two seats in the upcoming J&K Assembly polls, the Abdullah senior said it was to change the situation, the party has to actively participate in the elections. "It's like being in a storm — you can't steer the boat from the shore; you have to be in the boat, navigating through the storm. Today, we find ourselves in a storm, and we need him to step forward and help us find our way out," he told India Today. 

NC Vice President Omar Abdullah is contesting Jammu and Kashmir polls from Budgam and Ganderbal Assembly constituencies. Both Ganderbal and Budgam go to vote in the second phase of the three-phased Assembly elections on September 25.