Srinagar, Apr 8: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah Monday said that abrogation of Article 370 would pave way for “Azaadi” of Kashmiris.
Addressing an election rally at Munawarabad area of old city here, Farooq said that abrogation of Article 370 was for the first time in the manifesto of the BJP.
“The nation is under threat. Do you think we will remain quiet if there is any attack on our special identity? We will fight for it,” he said.
At the same time, Farooq said that he was “praying to Allah that Article 370 is abrogated so we get the Azaadi” from India.
“The BJP wants to bury our identity. We won’t surrender to become slaves. Prime Minister Narendra Modi can’t win hearts of Kashmiris by force and guns. No one will hold your (Indian) flag if Article 370 is abrogated,” he said.
The BJP on Monday released its manifesto for the parliamentary polls. In the manifesto, the party said they are committed to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35 A.
“We reiterate our position since the time of the Jan Sangh to abrogation of Article 370. We are committed to annulling Article 35A of the Constitution of India as the provision is discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir,” reads the manifesto.
Farooq claimed that BJP leaders were spreading hatred against Kashmiris. “Even a BJP Governor called for boycott to Kashmiris then how do you expect that we will become part of India. Nobody can change the demography of the state,” the former chief minister said. National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, and party’s senior leaders Mustafa Kamal and Shamima Firdous were also present on the occasion.
The National Conference leader also criticised the government for ban on civilian traffic on the national highway. “You closed roads for 47 security forces vehicles. We have to seek now permission whether to walk on the road or not,” he said.
The former chief minister also slammed for summoning of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to New Delhi by the NIA. “Why can’t you question him here,” he asked.
He asked Prime Minister to treat people of all religions, regions equally. “I have never seen a PM like Narendra Modi ever in my life. Before polls, you promised 2 crore jobs each year. What happened to 10 crore jobs,” he added.
