‘God willing, Statehood will be restored’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 4: While questioning Central Government’s claim that terrorism has been wiped out from J&K, former Chief Minister and J&K National Conference president, Dr Farooq Abdullah today said “if militancy has ended, then the incidents like Kulgam attack should not happen.”
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Referring to the militants’ attack in Kulgam on Monday that left an ex-serviceman martyred and two women including his wife injured, the National Conference chief questioned the Government’s claim of having eradicated militancy in the Jammu and Kashmir.
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“Ask those who claim that militancy has ended. If the incidents like Kulgam happen, ask them where their claim has gone. Everyday, they make statements in Parliament, outside Parliament, on mountains and everywhere that militancy has ended,” Farooq said while responding to questions of media-persons on the sidelines of a function here today.
The National Conference president also responded to a range of questions on political and social issues, including the Delhi elections, the INDIA bloc, the restoration of Statehood and concerns regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Responding to a question on the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections and the BJP’s claims of victory, Farooq asked all to wait till elections are held on Wednesday.
“They (BJP) also said they would come to power in J&K. They said this way or that way, there will be a hung Assembly in J&K,” Farooq remarked.
“Where have their claims gone today? They seem to have been silenced now. The decision is made by the people of this country, not by Farooq Abdullah or Sakina Itoo,” he added.
While replying to a question regarding chances of the BJP benefitting from INDIA bloc partners such as the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) contesting separately in Delhi, NC chief dismissed speculations about its impact on the alliance, stating, “If I were God or `Antaryami’, I could predict this. But I am a simple man and not able to tell anything in advance.
“What do I know about who will come and who will not come? I did not even know if we would come here in J&K,” Farooq added.
The former Chief Minister expressed confidence in the INDIA bloc, stating that it was progressing with God’s blessings and would continue moving forward despite opposition.
When asked if he would take the initiative to unite alliance partners at the national level, Farooq downplayed his role, saying, “I don’t have that capacity, and I am not that person. We all know that together, we can do something better for this country. Divided, we cannot achieve anything.”
Responding to a question on the restoration of statehood to J&K, Farooq reiterated his earlier stance and expressed hope that it would be restored.
“God willing, it will be restored. It may take some time but it will definitely happen. If I were a clairvoyant, I would say it will happen now but I am not,” he added.
Responding to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s concerns about EVMs, Farooq Abdullah abruptly shifted the focus to the freedom of Press, questioning the ability of the Media to critique the Central Government.
“You ask the questions you like. How many of our answers do you publish?
“Can you criticise the Central Government? You only criticise the Opposition. You and your newspaper will be destroyed. You will end up in jail. You keep buttering them up”, he added.
Responding to a question on Uniform Civil Code proposed by the Gujarat Government and implemented by Uttarakhand, Farooq said, “Let them do it.”
Regarding a question on the possibility of a cancer vaccine similar to that of COVID-19 vaccine, Dr Farooq expressed scepticism about the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. He claimed that the Covid-19 vaccine was administered without any trial.
“Today, we are seeing its results. Many young people are dying of heart attacks and other issues, and it is being said the vaccine is responsible. We cannot say anything until it is specifically determined whether it is responsible or not,” Farooq added.
Asked whether he would attend the Maha Kumbh, Farooq said, “I bathe at home. My God is at home.
“My God is not in water. The God is neither in a mosque, temple or gurudwara. My God is in my heart,” Farooq asserted.
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