Hyderabad, Sept. 3: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of creating threats to Kashmiri Pandits to delay the restoration of statehood.
Speaking to reporters in Anantnag, Abdullah questioned the source of the alleged threats. He asked why senior officers from outside Jammu and Kashmir were not facing similar threats.
Abdullah alleged that the reported threats were part of a conspiracy to deny Jammu and Kashmir statehood. He said an atmosphere of fear was being created despite claims that militancy had been eliminated.
Farooq Abdullah Questions Delay in J&K Statehood
Abdullah said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who oversees security in Jammu and Kashmir, should explain the source of the alleged threats. He accused the administration of being responsible for them.
He also criticised the Centre over the delay in restoring statehood. Abdullah said the Centre had promised delimitation, elections and then statehood, but claimed the process had not been completed as promised.
He referred to a meeting between National Conference MPs and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Abdullah said Shah had promised that Business Rules would be approved within days in January, but questioned the delay until September.
Without naming the Peoples Democratic Party, Abdullah accused the party of helping the BJP revoke Article 370 and Article 35A. He said those now speaking about statehood and Article 370 were trying to mislead people.
Abdullah said there was no need to appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for statehood. He said restoring statehood was already a promise made by the Prime Minister.
The remarks came after National Conference and BJP workers held separate protest marches in Srinagar. The NC protested against the Centre over the delay in restoring statehood.
The BJP, meanwhile, accused the Omar Abdullah government of failing on several fronts. Police and security forces stopped both marches from reaching their intended destinations.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accused the police of using force against NC protesters. He also alleged that BJP protesters were treated differently during the demonstrations.
