Farooq Abdullah Asserts Indian Identity, Responds to Pakistan’s Defence Minister on Article 370 Remarks
New Delhi, 20th September 2024: After Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif remarked that Pakistan and the Congress-National Conference alliance share a common stance on restoring Article 370, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah responded on Thursday, emphasizing his identity as an Indian citizen. “I don’t know what Pakistan says. I am not a Pakistani; I am an Indian citizen,” he stated during a media interaction.
Regarding the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Abdullah urged patience until October 8, when he believes clarity will emerge. “Wait until October 8; everything will be clear. The first thing I will do is reinstate the Darbar Move. Both regions have suffered due to its absence. Historically, people would travel to Jammu in winter and return in summer to complete their work. You can ask the people how much they have lost because of the discontinuation of the Darbar Move,” he explained.
In response to Asif’s comments, BJP leaders criticized the Congress-National Conference alliance. Amit Malviya, a BJP leader, stated on X, “Pakistan, a nation that sponsors terrorism, backs the Congress and National Conference’s stance on Kashmir. Khwaja Asif’s remarks on Geo News indicate that they are aligned on the restoration of Article 370 and 35A. It raises questions about how Rahul Gandhi and Congress consistently find themselves on the side of those opposed to India’s interests.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala questioned the nature of the relationship between the Congress party and the National Conference with Pakistan, suggesting they are attempting to forge connections with the neighbouring country.
During his appearance on Geo News with journalist Hamid Mir, Khwaja Asif confirmed that both Pakistan and the NC-Congress alliance have the same objective regarding the restoration of Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. He asserted that if the NC-Congress alliance were to gain power, the possibility of reinstating Article 370 could materialize.
