Srinagar, July 29 : National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday urged the international community and the Centre to take note of the reported killings and hardships faced by people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), while asserting that New Delhi should speak out if it considers the region its own.
Addressing reporters, Abdullah said he had repeatedly appealed to the United Nations Human Rights mechanisms, the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to intervene and address the situation in PoK.
“I have requested the United Nations Human Rights Commission to go there, see their problems and try to solve them. I have also appealed to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister,” he said.
Questioning the Centre’s stand on PoK, Abdullah said the government frequently claims the territory as an integral part of India but remains silent over reports of killings and alleged human rights violations there.
“They keep saying it is our part. If it is your part, then why don’t you speak about what is happening there? Why don’t you say the killings should stop? I have not heard any statement from them,” he said.
Referring to the ongoing student-led protests, Abdullah said the agitation would continue if the authorities failed to address the demands of the protesters.
“If the promises made to them are not fulfilled and instead they face FIRs, arrests and harassment, this campaign will continue. The students have risen and, God willing, they will carry it forward,” he said.
The NC chief also expressed concern over the growing drug menace among the youth in Jammu and Kashmir and said unemployment remained a major challenge.
He further criticised the alleged crackdown following the recent Anantnag incident, claiming that thousands of people had been arrested and houses demolished, and urged the government to avoid actions that could further alienate people.(KNS).
