NC to heal wounds of J&K people if elected to power: Farooq Abdullah

Jammu, Jan 17: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah Wednesday stated that his party would heal the wounds of all sections of J&K if voted to power in Jammu and Kashmir.

He alleged that there was none in the present dispensation to listen to the grievances of suffering people. “This can be changed if you cautiously cast your vote,” he said, asking the J&K people, particularly Gujjar-Bakarwals, not to repeat their mistake (to support and elect BJP).

He was here along with the NC vice president Omar Abdullah and other senior leaders to chair a day-long Gujjar and Bakarwal conference, organized by senior party leader Choudhary Muhammad Aslam at the party provincial headquarters Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, Jammu.

While addressing the gathering, Farooq said that the socio, political and economic emancipation of Gujjar and Bakarwal community forms the cornerstone of NC's inclusive development policy.

In his address, Dr. Farooq laid stress on unity. He said, “We should learn from our previous mistakes and move forward,” adding that the challenges ahead of Jammu and Kashmir could only be surmounted if every section of the society would join forces with NC to protect the unique identity of J&K.

“Our tribals identify with our policies, our vision and mission. Our party has been a votary of exclusive rights of our tribals on the natural resources. Policies pursued by us have brought a difference into the lives of our tribals, but much more needs to be done to bridge the gap,” he said.

Among prominent leaders, who were present on the occasion and addressed the gathering also included Haji Ali Mohd Sagar general secretary and former minister; Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal; Ajay Kumar Sadhotra additional general secretaries, Mian Altaf Ahmed former minister and Rattan Lal Gupta provincial president Jammu.

The party functionaries, who spoke on the occasion, highlighted the plethora of issues faced by the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities across J&K. They said, “The communities have been at the receiving end since 2014, with very little to no attention being provided to their emancipation.”