‘White Paper’ to expose how BJP promoting democracy in J&K, reveals Farooq Abdullah

Results of the recently-held DDC election in the Union Territory of J&K indicate people have rebuffed ‘Money-Muscle-Ministers’ unleashed by the Centre, believes Dr Farooq Abdullah. “They spent enormous amounts of money, used the administration and central agencies to intimidate PAGD (Peoples Alliance of Gupkar Declaration) supporters, restrained PAGD leaders and candidates from campaigning while giving a free pass to the BJP,” he recalled.

But nothing worked, he pointed out, for the BJP which bagged 74 of the 278 seats and control of only six of the 20 district councils. They had claimed that National Conference and PDP did not enjoy people’s confidence, he pointed out, but PAGD candidates won 35 seats even in Jammu.

“Yes, BJP won three seats in Kashmir but let me not swell on how the seats were won,” said Dr Abdullah, breaking into poetry, “Modi lakh chahe toh kya hota hai / wohi hota hai joh manjoore-khuda hota hai”(Modi proposes but God disposes).

The Centre, he alleged, was trying to divide people not only on religious lines but was driving a wedge even among Muslims by instigating Shias against Sunnis.

“The verdict is a resounding rebuff to the Union Government’s illegal revocation of Article 370, Article 35 and the special status which was surreptitiously ended without notice or discussion; like the farm laws enacted without consultation with farmers, the illegal acts of August 5, 2019 were also taken without consultation of people and the J&K Assembly,” said Dr Abdullah who added, “PAGD is committed to get the special status restored.”

The Prime Minister, the NC leader said, spoke of development and he would like to be informed of the development projects in the state since August 5, 2019. “He speaks of 5G telecom connection but in J & K the Government does not allow even 4G connection. Our students and doctors have suffered while being forced to do with slow and poor 2 G connection,” and yet ‘they speak of democracy and development’.

The fact that PAGD won 35 seats even in Jammu, he said, indicated how disappointed people in Jammu are with the BJP. “They now realise that they are likely to lose their land, security, jobs and business to outsiders,” said Dr Abdullah.

Kashmir issue would not be resolved at gun-point, reiterated Dr Abdullah. Centre will have to create a conducive environment for talks and restore statehood and special status to J&K, he added.