SRINAGAR, OCT 07: National Conference (NC) chief Dr. Farooq Abdullah announced on Monday that he would wholeheartedly accept support from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to lead Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) out of its current challenges. However, he emphasized that the right to nominate five Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) rests solely with an elected government, and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) is only to approve the nominations put forward by the elected body.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar ahead of the J&K Assembly poll results, Dr. Abdullah welcomed PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s statement of support for an NC-Congress alliance. “I will accept PDP’s support from the core of my heart. I congratulate the parties for coming together to build a better J&K that will shine both within the Union and across the country,” Dr. Abdullah stated.
He highlighted the importance of unity to pull J&K out of the difficulties it has faced since the revocation of its special status on August 5, 2019. When asked whether other political parties were also offering support to NC, Dr. Abdullah confirmed that many parties had already extended their backing.
On the challenges facing any future government, Dr. Abdullah pointed to the downgrading of J&K from a state to a Union Territory as a primary issue. “This is the biggest challenge that has to be met. I hope better sense prevails in Delhi, and the BJP acknowledges the worth of J&K, especially with two hostile neighbors on our borders,” he said.
When asked about potential horse-trading, Dr. Abdullah dismissed the idea, stating, “Where will they go if they do horse-trading? They can’t hide.” He was referring to politicians who might switch allegiances to align with the BJP.
Dr. Abdullah also commented on reports suggesting that LG Manoj Sinha could nominate five MLAs to the J&K Assembly, asserting that such nominations should be made solely by an elected government. “We don’t want individuals in the Assembly who aren’t deserving. The LG must only approve what the elected government recommends to him,” he said.
Regarding Engineer Rashid’s suggestion to delay government formation until statehood is restored, Dr. Abdullah expressed skepticism, asking, “Where has Rashid come from? If he was in jail, who released him and why, while others remain imprisoned? What happened to Rashid’s earlier call for a plebiscite in Kashmir?”
Lastly, Dr. Abdullah touched on the ongoing Middle East crisis, warning that conflicts like those in the Middle East and Ukraine could severely impact the global economy. “Wars are disastrous for the world, whether in the Middle East or in the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” he remarked, expressing hope for a peaceful resolution.
