Kashmir subjected to step-motherly treatment by India’s BJP regime: Farooq
Srinagar : National Conference President Farooq Abdullah has said that Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has been subjected to step-motherly treatment by India’s BJP regime, which continues to deny the people their democratic rights.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a statement issued in Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah said that in a democracy there is no place for intimidation, coercion, harassment, fear, injustice or suppression of people’s voices. He said respecting human rights is a fundamental responsibility of a democratic society and no region or citizen should be subjected to discrimination on the basis of religion or faith.
“First our special status was revoked without seeking the people’s consent and the historic state was demoted into two Union Territories, while IIOJK’s statehood continues to remain in suspended animation. The people of Kashmir were assured that statehood would be restored soon after the elections. However, even two years after the elections, no progress has been made in this direction,” he said.
Farooq said to make matters worse, the elected government of occupied Jammu and Kashmir has been denied even the powers ordinarily available to a Union Territory government.
“The Lieutenant Governor’s administration leaves no opportunity to interfere in the functioning of the democratically elected government and create obstacles in its work,” he said.
Expressing concern over growing communalism and religious discrimination in India, he said issuing arbitrary decisions by disregarding democratic and constitutional principles and using official authority for personal or political interests runs contrary to the interests of the nation and its people. Such actions not only undermine social harmony but also weaken unity and integrity, he added.
The policies and conduct of the ruling BJP are increasing the sense of insecurity among Muslims and other minority communities, he said.
Farooq Abdullah also expressed concern over the desecration of religious places and bulldozer actions targeting Muslim places of worship, saying the sanctity of religious places must be upheld under all circumstances.
