Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Government of India (GOI) should repose its faith in Supreme Court (SC) and refrain from bullying the people of the state with the unwarranted threats on annihilating the Article 35-A and Article 370.
Mr Abdullah, who is the Vice President of National Conference (NC), while addressing a workers convention in Eidgah constituency in Srinagar, said that the untenable advisories emanating from the administration have created fear psychosis in the state in particular the Kashmir region.
“People in the valley are going through anxiety in wake of the rumor mongering set afloat by the administration. Whoso ever goes to government offices is being warned to stock necessary household items and other edibles before 15 August. Here what is worrisome is that the rumors are being set afloat by the people in administration itself. The rumor mongering has created panicky and fear psychosis among the people,” he said.
“People are being told to stock ration, fill their automobiles, and switch to land lines. The news that the police stations have been told to acquire bulldozers is also keeping the rumor mill churning. People have become anxious. What is it that the present government wants to achieve by spreading such rumors?” he said.
He said that on one hand the GOI and the state administration is boasting off the improvement in the situation in the state following a steep decline in the militant attacks, stone pelting in the valley. “But on the other hand undue rumors are being spread by the administration itself that the state will once again be on fire after August 15. What is it the government of India and the state wants to achieve by bullying people? It is not New Delhi that suffers whenever situation is difficult in the state. It is the people of Kashmir that bear the direct brunt of tumultuous situation. The statements emanating from Union ministers, hinting towards the abrogation of Art 35-A after the August 15, have also kept the rumor mills churning. The people are becoming restive,” he said.
Mr Abdullah said the petitions pertaining to Art 35-A and Art 370 are sub-judice and that the GOI should wait for the final verdict. “Do they not believe in the final decree of the supreme court of India. Contrary to the disdain the incumbent central government has for the rule of law and the procedures established by the law of country, our party has reposed its faith in the Supreme Court. The matter is sub judice therefore it should be kept aloof from politicking. I would appeal GOI to refrain from commenting on the issue unless the final verdict comes,” he said.(UNI)
