Former Chief Minister and National Conference(NC) supremo Dr Farooq Abdullah, who is a heavyweight contestant in the upcoming Parliamentary by polls in Kashmir, has dropped a bombshell. Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement asking youth to choose between “terrorism and tourism”, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the youth pelting stones on government forces are “sacrificing lives” for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
“Youth who are pelting stones have nothing to do with tourism. I want to tell Modi sahib that tourism is our lifeline, but the stone pelter has nothing to do with tourism. He will starve to death but he is pelting stones for the sake of nation. They are sacrificing lives so that a solution can be found to Kashmir issue. They are not sacrificing lives for tourism,” he added.
Addressing a rally at his Gupkar residence in Srinagar, he equally invoked Islamic sentiments quoting, “Almighty Allah is razaak or sustainer of entire mankind.” “Allah decides sustenance for all and even if Modi brings rizk of entire India (to Kashmir), unless almighty wishes no one will be benefitted out of it, be it a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian.”
Dr Abdullah took a dig at the Centre for rejecting USA’s offer to be a broker in Indo-Pak dialogue. “National Conference wants that if India doesn’t try or move forward for a solution, we welcome American intervention before a nuclear war is triggered between the two countries,” he further addressed.
Well, if the NC looks ahead for a resolution to Kashmir issue, much the way stone pelters do, why doesn’t Dr Abdullah’s son and successor, Omar Abdullah and his young team including Junaid Mattu, Tanvir Sadiq, and Salman Sagar join the stone-pelters? It will be interesting to see some articulate and well-spoken politicians pelting stones. And, why do the Abdullahs need to contests elections, something stone pelters don’t really endorse?
The reality is that from opposition NC to ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), almost every regional party contesting the upcoming Parliament elections for Srinagar and Anantnag constituencies is trying to appease the stone-pelters for political gains.
PDP candidate from Anantnag-Pulwama Parliamentary constituency, Tassaduq Mufti said that, “the foremost need [in Kashmir is to] hold talks with stone-pelters.” “First hold talks with the stone-pelters. Talks on the larger issues can be held later,” he added.
If holding talks with stone pelters is of utmost importance, why has Tasaduq’s sister and Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti led government given precedence to the use of bullets and pellets on the protesting youth?
With elections round the corner, all the netas seem to be sailing in the same boat when it comes to pandering the protesting youth. Dr Farooq Abdullah glamorizing the stone pelting with all his articulate speech sounds melodramatic, but this stone pelting comes at the cost of precious human lives. Scores of youth have already lost their lives in stone pelting, be it during PDP, NC or other regimes.
But then may be Dr Farooq Abdullah is well aware of this bitter reality. Otherwise, NC’s first family would have produced the best stone-pelters. Isn’t it?
