Stating that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is democratic right of the people, National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday said that it must be granted without further delay.
Talking to reporters here, Dr Farooq, according to the news agency said, “I am thankful to Congress leaders including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha LoP & party president Mallikarjun Kharge for raising the issue of statehood restoration with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urging the government to restore statehood to the region.”
“They have taken a stand for the people of J&K. Their letter to the Prime Minister is a welcome step. Statehood is our constitutional right. Why wouldn’t we get it? We will raise this demand strongly in the INDIA alliance meeting on Saturday (July 19),” he said.
Pertinently, the Congress leaders had written to the Prime Minister Narenrda Modi, seeking the immediate restoration of statehood. The letter sent to the PM was also hailed by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah earlier, stating that they were waiting for the opposition’s response in this regard.
He further added “If they don’t give us what’s ours, we will see how to deal with it,” he remarked.
Asked about the United States designating The Resistance Front (TRF), suspected to be behind the recent Pahalgam terror attack, as a foreign terrorist organization, Dr. Abdullah said, “The matter is under investigation. It is better to comment once the probe is completed.”
Earlier, the National Conference President visited the residence of the deceased poet and social activist Shahid Budgami and also visited the family of the late Aga Syed Mohammad Baqir to pay his respects.
He was accompanied by National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani