'NC-Congress will ensure statehood for J&K': Farooq Abdullah
National Conference (NC) supremo Farooq Abdullah has expressed confidence in the NC-Congress alliance's victory in the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that the parties are committed to restoring statehood to the region. "National Conference and Congress will ensure that we get our statehood back," he told reporters. This statement was made in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's accusation that these parties were misleading people about statehood restoration, a power only held by the Centre.
Abdullah questions effectiveness of Article 370 abrogation
Abdullah also addressed the issue of terrorism in the valley, questioning the effectiveness of the abrogation of Article 370. "They say if the NC and Congress come to power, terrorism will start again. I ask them, when they abolished Article 370, did terrorism end?" he asked. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government revoked this constitutional article in August 2019, which had previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah dismisses possibility of Congress-NC government
In his rally speech on Saturday, Shah dismissed the possibility of a Congress-NC government in J&K. He also addressed the issue of Article 370, stating that it is now a thing of the past and would never come back. "Modi restored your honour by ending discrimination and injustice faced by you...Ensure a government which will work for you so that you do not go to Srinagar with a begging bowl. It is possible by strengthening Modi's hand," he said.
J&K to hold 1st assembly election since 2014
Jammu and Kashmir will hold its first assembly election since December 2014, with polling dates scheduled for September 18, 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will be conducted on October 8. The government collapsed in 2018 after the BJP withdrew its support from Mehbooba Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration. This time, the BJP is contesting fewer seats and has decided to support independent candidates and "friendly allies."
