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Modi, not India, in danger: Farooq

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 3/18/2019 12:42:28 AM

JAMMU, Mar 17: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Sunday blamed BJP for creating fear psychosis across the country by crying hoarse over the nation being in danger.
“India is not in danger; it is the BJP which is in danger due to rug slipping from under the feet of the Prime Minister ahead of general elections. Desh Khatre Mein Nehi, Modiji Khatre Mein Hain,” Dr Farooq said while addressing a public meeting asking people to vote for party candidate B R Kundal in Jammu-Poonch parliamentary constituency. He recalled that he had contested the 1996 elections when no one was ready to join the democratic process in view of peak militancy at that time.
Apparently referring to air strike across the border in the wake of Pulwama terror attack and martyrdom of over 40 CRPF personnel, the former chief minister regretted over the expression of selective outrage, saying similar concern and anguish should have been demonstrated over the killing of security forces in Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh and elsewhere. He said nobody from the Centre even visited those martyrs.
He said, “The soldiers are dying even today.” “Tell me when our jawans were killed in Chhattisgarh, did Modi or any of his ministers go there to offer them float tributes,” he asked. Slamming the BJP and the RSS for accusing him of being a Pakistani, Farooq said, “I want to tell BJP and RSS that terrorists recently killed a poor worker of mine as he was holding the tri colour.”
Farooq Abdullah assailed the BJP led NDA government at the Centre for rising inflation and non-fulfilment of commitments made to the people during 2014 elections. The promise of two crore jobs annually and direct deposit of Rs 15 lakhs in each bank account proved to be a big hoax, he said, asking where the promised jobs were. At least, nothing of the sort was seen in Jammu and Kashmir in the past five years. He said Narendra Modi used to censure the Centre as Chief Minister of Gujarat on rising prices and growing unemployment but now he had no answers or explanations to offer to the people.
National Conference president termed the slogan of power supply to all the villages as yet another gimmick saying the government that failed in regulating power supply in towns and cities could not make tall claims. He described the power scenario in Jammu and Kashmir as most erratic and added that the position of drinking water was not too good. He said the scheme drawn for drawing Chenab waters for meeting drinking water needs in Jammu continues to remain a distant dream.
“Now we are witnessing euphoria over stopping the Chenab spill over to Pakistan,” he said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir had been worst sufferer of the Indus Water Treaty. He regretted that the project costs of harnessing Chenab waters escalated manifold due to lackadaisical approach in its implementation.
Farooq said Indus Water treaty between India and Pakistan had resulted in injustice to the state as “we are not able to use our water resources to the advantage of the people.” “Centre was planning to stop the flow of the river Chenab to Pakistan but reality dawned upon them because it is not possible given the treaty,” he said.
Earlier, paying tributes to Guru Nabba Dass ji at a congregation, Farooq underscored the crucial need of social justice and avenues of progress for all, irrespective of religion, caste and creed. He said mere slogans about the upliftment of weaker sections were not enough. “A holistic approach is needed to be adopted for according rightful place to weaker sections in governance and decision making,” he added.
He reiterated commitment of his party for providing adequate openings to the members of weaker sections of the society in governance and recalled the initiatives taken in this regard in the past. He said political empowerment of weaker sections holds key to their overall empowerment.
Farooq decried the politics of hate and mistrust being perpetrated and practiced by the BJP and said this is against the very idea of India. He said instead of dividing the people in the name of religion, caste and region, everyone should be treated as a compatriot, which alone can lead the country to progress and harmony.
He asked the BJP to desist from dividing the people and vitiating the atmosphere for deriving political dividends. He hoped that people would reject such tendencies and isolate the reactionary forces to ensure that the nation progresses and prospers as a united and strong entity.
Besides, provincial president Devender Singh Rana, the former legislator Trilochan Singh Wazir and B R Kundal were also present on these occasions. They exhorted the cadre to strengthen National Conference at the grass roots level so that the challenges faced to the state are faced with renewed confidence. Senior National Conference leaders were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, National Conference president inaugurated a hotel in the private sector in Satwari area and described it a step forward towards facilitating pilgrim tourism.