Just want to settle Kashmir issue, says NC chief

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8

Defending his statement over extending support to separatists to get the Kashmir issue resolved, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah asked what was wrong in it as he wants settlement of the K-issue and don’t want people on both sides to die.

“Who is dying on borders? Is anyone from Delhi, Mumbai, Karachi or Lahore dying? No. It is the people of J&K on both sides, who are dying,” Farooq Abdullah said while talking to mediapersons on sidelines of a function.

The NC president, in his unique style, defended his stand and related it with initiating dialogue with separatists and all stakeholders. “Why are you blaming me for this? The government in its Agenda of Alliance has mentioned talking to separatists and all stakeholders. On this side, India has to talk to all, including separatists, people of Jammu, Ladakh and all regions, whereas Pakistan will have to talk to people of Muzaffarabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu and others,” he said.

Replying to the question that separatists don’t want to talk with India under Constitution, Farooq said, “It is not the question of Constitution. You have to talk unconditionally. How are you talking to Pakistan, under the Indian Constitution? When Shimla, Taskent or Lahore agreements happened, did India and Pakistan talk under the Indian Constitution?”

“During the Shimla agreement, Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto talked unconditionally and it was decided that the Kashmir issue will be resolved by sitting together without the interference of a third party,” Farooq said.

He was critical of Chief Minster Mehbooba Mufti on blaming the NC for the unrest in the Kashmir valley. “I would like to remind Mehbooba Mufti that it was her father Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who always played the game of buying and selling MLAs. Even in 2002, when the NC got 28 seats and PDP got 16 seats, he tried to buy our MLAs. Let Mehbooba prove that Farooq Abdullah has brought or sold an MLA. We don’t believe in “Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram”,” Farooq added.