\Srinagar, Aug 02: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday questioned the Centre's repeated claims that terrorism had ended in Jammu and Kashmir, asking who was responsible for recent killings if militancy had indeed been eliminated.
AdvertismentReferring to the recent killings of civilians, labourers and a police officer, Abdullah said the perpetrators should be identified publicly instead of attributing every attack to terrorists without explanation.
Has terrorism ended?
"The National Conference is also facing such challenges.
Responding to criticism from the BJP over his remarks linking the recent Kulgam attack to the demand for restoration of statehood, Abdullah dismissed the allegations.
\Srinagar, Aug 02: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday questioned the Centre's repeated claims that terrorism had ended in Jammu and Kashmir, asking who was responsible for recent killings if militancy had indeed been eliminated.
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Referring to the recent killings of civilians, labourers and a police officer, Abdullah said the perpetrators should be identified publicly instead of attributing every attack to terrorists without explanation. "You keep saying that terrorism has ended. If terrorism has ended, then who is carrying out these killings? Bring them before the public. Let us see them."
He added: "People are being killed here, and all we are told is that terrorists killed them. But where did they come from? The border is said to be completely under control. Who is doing these killings?"
Abdullah also rejected claims that the security situation had fundamentally improved after the constitutional changes of 2019.
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"You can see for yourself how much they have changed. Has terrorism ended? They keep proclaiming before the whole world that it has. We are only saying: restore our statehood. Give us back our statehood. Why are you not doing it?"
The National Conference leader said his party was doing everything within its limited powers to address public grievances despite Jammu and Kashmir being a Union Territory.
"The National Conference is also facing such challenges. We are trying from every possible direction despite the difficulties, especially when this is a Union Territory and almost everything is in the hands of the Lieutenant Governor. Whatever we can do, we are doing, and we are trying to reduce the hardships faced by the people."
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Commenting on the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Abdullah described the people there as "our brothers" and urged the international community to take note of their condition.
"They are our brothers too. They are going through immense suffering."
Calling for international intervention, he said: "The United Nations is such a big organisation. It has a human rights body. They should go there and see what their condition is. But everyone is silent. No country is doing anything."
He further remarked: "Our own country says they are ours, yet even it is not talking about them."
Responding to criticism from the BJP over his remarks linking the recent Kulgam attack to the demand for restoration of statehood, Abdullah dismissed the allegations. "What answer should I give them? They have their own politics to pursue. They are the ones ruining everything through this politics."
Asked about Mehbooba Mufti's recent remarks alleging that the National Conference had endorsed the executions of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat, Abdullah declined to engage. "I will not respond to Mehbooba Ji. Whatever she says, she says."
On the prolonged disruption to truck movement on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, Abdullah appealed for patience. "They too will move. Why are you worried? We need patience. We have neither patience nor tolerance. The day we learn patience and tolerance, everything will be fine."
