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I live a life of honesty: Farooq

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 4/10/2019 12:11:36 AM

Denies having amassed wealth

SRINAGAR, Apr 9: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today said he lives a life of honesty and denied the charges by some BJP leaders that he has amassed huge wealth.
He was addressing election meetings at Hazratbal here and Charar-e- Sharief. “The property I have at Gupkar was purchased by my father after selling our family property at Soura. The property I have at Tangmarg, belonged to my late mother who had acquired it from her father," Farooq said.
He added that had he amassed wealth he would have been an Ambani. "Unlike BJP leaders who are millionaires, I prefer to live a life by honest means. On the contrary it is the BJP that has to answer the nation on Rafael deal. The country wants to know the fact," the NC president said.
He added that the ensuing elections provide the people with an opportunity to secure the future of coming generation. Farooq said the opportunity should be utilised to cleanse the country and state from the communal yolk that is contriving to divide hearts of people.
NC leader stated that no election is as important as is the ensuing one since it will decide if this country will run by the ideals of constitution or not. “The constitution of the country assures every a dignified life, it gives equal respect and equal opportunities to all with the prejudices of caste, class, ethnicity or race. However, the incumbent government does not think on these lines, their idea of nation state is fraught with malice and religious prejudices. They nurture hate for minorities particularly Muslims. Now it is up to us to ensure if we want to live in a secular India or an India that is infested by bigotry and communalism. The opportunity is tapping our door; we should make the most of it and give India a responsible, secular progressive government. However, Kashmir has to take the lead in this direction primarily to save our special status, our identity and secondarily to ensure that the secular visage of the country is restored,” he said.
Farooq added that Modi’s tenure shall be remembered for forgotten promises, lies and showmanship.”
Referring to the manifesto of BJP, Farooq said that it is a repetition of the same promises which they miserably failed to implement on ground for past five years. “They had promised to rehabilitate Kashmiri Panndits back in the valley. Were they able to do so? The other day a Kashmiri pundit visited me and recounted how BJP ditched his community. The pundit was mulling to shift to Kashmir therefore had entreated some monetary help from government to do so; however to his dismay his plea had no takers. This is just a case in point. There are numerous such pundit families who actually wanted to move but find it difficult because of government support. BJP only wants the votes of Pundits, rest there was not any initiative rolled out by the centre to get pundits back to their homes. The other day many pundits who work here visited me and narrated how they have been thrown out of their government accommodations. This deflates the much touted promise BJP made in its earlier Manifesto. The repetition of the promises by BJP in its Manifesto testifies to the fact that it has failed to deliver on it for five years. People won’t fall prey to it now. They have seen it all with their eyes,” he said.
Party president said that on one hand Jaitley and Rajnath Singh say that Article 370, Article 35-A have to go, but on the other hand the governor says it will remain. “Who should be believed? Such are the state of affairs. How many more dead bodies they want to see? The other day an educated boy from a district that has never seen violence gave his life at Kulgam; he could not bear the injustice that is being meted out to his countrymen. The repression, intimidation has to stop otherwise it would be difficult to win the hearts and bridge the gaps,” he said.