Reverse extension of Central laws to state, says Farooq

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 15

National Conference president and MP Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said the time had come to start reversing the extension of all Central laws that were extended to J&K after 1953 in continuation of the spirit of the state’s unique political arrangement with the rest of the country.

Addressing a public meeting at Uri today, he also urged New Delhi and Islamabad to start a sustained, comprehensive dialogue on Kashmir as it was against the interests of both countries to prolong the political issue, a party statement quoted him. “The time has come to reverse the extension of all Central laws extended to J&K post-1953 through pliant regimes that were installed in J&K through covert and undemocratic machinations to disempower people of the state and rob them of their political identity,” Farooq told the gathering in Uri.

“The erosion of the state’s autonomy is the genesis of the political problem in J&K, which created a sense of disenchantment and disillusionment among people. It was this sense of betrayal, disenchantment and disillusionment that has fuelled the turmoil and unrest in Kashmir at regular intervals in our history and this is what New Delhi needs to acknowledge,” he said, adding that the restoration of autonomy to J&K was “non-negotiable.”

“Our people won’t surrender before achieving their goal of an acceptable political resolution that takes into account their aspirations,” he said while reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his speech where he underlined the need to embrace the people of Kashmir as opposed to dealing with them operationally and militarily.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi should now take concrete steps to engage with the people of Kashmir with full dignity and respect for their sentiments to resolve the Kashmir issue,” he said.