Prepare for ULB, panchayat polls: Farooq Abdullah to party cadre

Srinagar, Dec 2: National Conference (NC) President and three-time chief minister Farooq Abdullah Monday urged his party cadre to prepare for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayat polls and reaffirmed NC’s commitment to fulfil its manifesto promises.

Addressing senior party leaders, Abdullah emphasised the importance of rigorous preparation for the upcoming ULB and Panchayat polls.

Underscoring the need to field young and educated candidates to ensure effective governance at all levels, he said, “A government is strong only when the foundation of the party at the grassroots level is robust.”

The NC chief stressed the need to strengthen party cadres and work tirelessly for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reaffirming the party’s commitment to fulfilling its manifesto promises, he expressed confidence in the leadership of Omar Abdullah to deliver on these commitments for the betterment of the people.

Abdullah said the Centre should put a stop to activities that can spark communal tension in the country, and treat Muslims as equals.

“There is a need to stop (incidents like Sambhal). I will tell the government of India to stop (such acts) because they cannot throw the Muslims (of India) into the sea. Where will they throw 24 crore Muslims? Treat Muslims as equals. That is what our constitution stands for. If they fiddle with the constitution, how will India survive,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the event.

The NC President urged the central government to prioritise robust safety measures to protect the sanctity of Muslim shrines and Masjids across the country.

Expressing deep concern over the ongoing survey of the 800-year-old shrine of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz Dargah Sharif in Ajmer, he emphasised its immense cultural and spiritual value.

The former chief minister said that such sacred sites represent India’s shared heritage and play a pivotal role in preserving the secular fabric of the nation.

He cautioned that these matters must be handled with utmost sensitivity to safeguard communal harmony.

The NC chief said no one was against the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.

“Who is stopping Kashmiri Pandits from returning? Every political party has said they should return. It is their decision when they want to return. Our hearts are open for them. Even when I was the chief minister, when the situation was bad, we tried to bring them back,” he said.

On demands seeking a review of the reservation policy in J&K, Abdullah said the government should review the same.

“We will tell the government to review it. Reservation is for the underprivileged sections so that they can come up as equals,” he said.

On Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha last week firing two government employees for their alleged terror links, Abdullah said the government “will keep an eye on everything and go into why the two employees were terminated”.

He also welcomed the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire and called for an end to attacks on Gaza, Syria, and Iran.

“Ceasefire is a very good step, but it is necessary to stop attacks jointly being carried out by Israel and the US - in Gaza, Syria, and Iran, which are continuing even today. This is dangerous. They should immediately resort to a ceasefire. You must have watched the debates in the UN Security Council. If there is a purpose for the existence of Security Council, it should work on the directions given to Israel. They should enforce a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid,” the NC chief said.

He said that during his Umrah, he not only prayed for Kashmir but for the entire Muslim world.

“May Allah resolve our problems! May Allah guide us to the right path! I prayed that we stay away from evil and for the end of religious hatred that has spread in our country. I prayed for unity and harmony,” Abdullah said.