Article 370 Restoration ‘Foremost Objective’: Farooq Says Jammu Kashmir NC Will Continue Political Struggle | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Reiterating that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status remains the National Conference’s principal political objective, Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the party would continue its “principled political struggle” until what he termed the “historic injustice” of August 5, 2019, is reversed.

Addressing a gathering, Farooq said the accession of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir to the Union of India was based on “clearly defined constitutional guarantees and solemn commitments,” which, he alleged, were undermined through “illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic measures.”

He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been deprived of their “fundamental political and constitutional rights” following the abrogation of Article 370 and added that even after six years, the people had “neither reconciled with these measures nor will they ever accept them in the future.”

Describing Article 370 as the “constitutional bedrock” governing the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and India, Farooq said the provision had safeguarded the region’s distinct identity and autonomous position after 1947. He accused New Delhi of reneging on its constitutional assurances by unilaterally revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 without consulting its people.

Highlighting the political legacy of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Dr Farooq said the party had historically undertaken “transformative and revolutionary measures” to protect the political, social and economic rights of the people.

Referring to the leadership of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, he said the National Conference had dismantled the feudal system through the landmark “Land to the Tiller” reforms, which granted ownership rights to peasants and reshaped the socio-economic structure of the region.

He further said the party laid the foundation for modern development in Jammu and Kashmir by strengthening sectors such as education, healthcare, road connectivity, electricity, drinking water supply and employment generation.

Criticising the promises made by the Central Government following the abrogation of Article 370, Farooq said the assurances of “prosperity, peace, development and employment” over the past six years had proved “hollow and misleading.”

Calling upon people to remain politically vigilant, he cautioned against “forces attempting to mislead the masses through shifting narratives, hollow slogans and calculated propaganda.” He also said some political groups had built their politics around opposing the National Conference, while others issued statements against the party merely to remain politically relevant.

Farooq also urged the Centre to “abandon harsh and alienating policies” towards Jammu and Kashmir and demanded the immediate restoration of full-fledged statehood along with the initiation of a “credible political process” aimed at restoring the constitutional and democratic rights of the people.