Speaking to reporters over the issue of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley, former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (JKNC) president Farooq Abdullah said that unless the past mistakes are admitted and ensured that those are not repeated in the future, till then Kashmiri won’t be a part of the country.
He, however, did not elaborate on the ‘past mistakes’
“Unless we open our hearts & admit that mistakes were made in past and we do not make in the future, Kashmiri will never be part of you (India),” said Abdullah while speaking at a book launch event in New Delhi Friday.
Further talking on claims of peace gradually returning to Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said, “If peace is being restored, why people working there are being told that they would either be sacked or their salaries won’t be paid if they don’t re-join duty?”
“If Jammu and Kashmir is getting investments, why Kashmiri Pandits are still reluctant to go there?” he questioned.
Abdullah said that he was held responsible for the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir. “However, the lie did not stand tall for long. I was of this impression that Kashmiri Pandits would be brought back… but that has not happened,” he said as quoted by IANS.
The National Conference leader claimed that the government is spending just around 40 percent of the funds on Kashmir while 60 to 70 percent is being spent on Jammu. “Hatred is being spread daily. We need to stay strong internally… if we are strong among ourselves, no one would be able to defeat us,” said while criticising the Modi-led Central government.
On the clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, the Lok Sabha MP said, “We need to keep our (gun) powder dry as anything can happen any moment.”
“We want a discussion in the Parliament over the recent clash between the Indian and Chinese soldiers. In Arunachal Pradesh as well as in Ladakh, tension exists between China and India. Let’s hope that the issues can be solved through negotiations. But in any case, we need to keep the (gun) powder dry,” he said as quoted by IANS.
