Srinagar, Jan 21 : National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that his party has “faced bullets for India” and is prepared to do so again if the need arises, rejecting the BJP’s claim that the NC seeks to revive stone-pelting and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to media as per KNS he said that ‘the National Conference has always stood with India. We have shed blood for this country and are ready to do so again if required,” Abdullah said, dismissing allegations that his party is working to destabilise the region.
Reacting to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s demand for divisional status for Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley regions, Abdullah termed such calls an attempt to divide Jammu and Kashmir. “God willing, Ladakh will return to Jammu and Kashmir. This is the ‘Dixon Plan’ to divide us. There are many people who want to divide J&K, but they will never succeed,” he said. He added that there was no need to create new districts, stating that “there are already enough districts.”
On the issue of separating Jammu from Kashmir, Abdullah said such a move was never contemplated by his party. “We never even wanted Ladakh to be separated. What benefit did the Ladakhis get from that? Today, even they are saying they want to be reunited with the state. They don’t want to remain a Union Territory,” he said. Reiterating his stance, Abdullah remarked, “This is the state of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Inshallah, one day Ladakh will be reunited with us again.”
Commenting on reports of India receiving an invitation to former US President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’, Abdullah said India and Trump share a longstanding relationship. “There has been some disruption in that friendship, but it will be restored. We will move forward,” he added.(KNS)
