Farooq Abdullah calls Article 370 revocation a “historic injustice”, says Kashmiris will never accept its removal
Srinagar: National Conference President Farooq Abdullah has said that the people Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been deprived of their fundamental political and constitutional rights following the abrogation of Article 370, adding that even after six years, they have neither reconciled with the decision nor will they ever accept it in the future.
According to Kashmir Media Service, while addressing a gathering, Farooq Abdullah described Article 370 as the constitutional bedrock of the relationship between IIOJK and India, saying it had safeguarded the territory’s distinct identity and autonomous position after 1947. He said that New Delhi had reneged on its constitutional assurances through illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic measures by unilaterally revoking Kashmir’s special status in August 2019 without consulting its people.
Reiterating that the restoration of IIOJK’s special constitutional status remains the National Conference’s principal political objective, he said the party would continue its struggle until the “historic injustice” of August 5, 2019 is reversed.
Criticising the promises made by the BJP-led Indian government following the abrogation of Article 370, Farooq Abdullah said assurances of “prosperity, peace, development and employment” over the past six years had proved “hollow and misleading.”
Calling upon people to remain politically vigilant, he cautioned against forces attempting to mislead the masses through shifting narratives, hollow slogans and calculated propaganda.
He urged New Delhi to abandon harsh and alienating policies towards occupied Jammu and Kashmir and demanded the immediate restoration of full-fledged statehood along with a credible political process aimed at restoring the constitutional and democratic rights of the Kashmiri people.
