New Delhi, Feb 11: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Monday visited Andhra Bhawan in Delhi to express solidarity with Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu, who was on a day long fast in New Delhi seeking special category for the newly carved Andhra Pradesh state.
Dr Farooq who represents the Srinagar parliamentary constituency has extended support to the protesting incumbent Andhra Chief Minister.
“I have personally extended support to the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. I believe his assertions wherein he has said that the incumbent BJP central government is dividing the country. I am of the opinion that all the secular forces of the country should put a strong and joint front to trounce the forces who are out there to destroy the secular visage of our country,” he said.
Dr Farooq said that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir also narrates the grimy tale of neglect and development deficit. “I am of the view that India is too vast a country to be run on a single person’s whims and decisions. Our party has been a votary of participatory and inclusive development. The very idea of development is incomplete if any party of country feels left out. I can empathize with Naidu ji; the situation is no different in our state. The development has been casualty in Kashmir ever since BJP made inroads into the state by clubbing with PDP,” he said.
Dr Farooq said that the present dispensation which is at the helm of affairs at New Delhi has never thought above petty politics and political gains. “We in Kashmir have been the worst sufferers of this. People in our state are yearning for an elected government that could advance the cause of development and peace building. However there are forces which have severe consternation having a democratically elected government in our state,” he said adding,
“There is no substitute to democratic process. And unfortunately GOI is making inordinate delay in ensuring elections in the state. It might serve their henchmen but it certainly doesn’t hold good for the people of Kashmir,” he said.
