Article 370 Abrogation, A Revenge Against Jammu And Kashmir: Exclusive Interview With Farooq Abdullah

In the lead-up to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections results, the alliance between the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and Congress is emerging as a force to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In an exclusive interview with Oneindia Farooq Abdullah, the JKNC chief, emphasises the importance of this alliance in restoring the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and bringing back justice to the region, which he believes has been systematically dismantled by the BJP government.

Farooq Abdullah reiterated that the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A was not just a constitutional change, but a direct attack on the identity, dignity and future of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are Article 370, we are 35A. These provisions represented the unique status and identity of Jammu and Kashmir, and the BJP's move to revoke them was an act of revenge against our people," said Abdullah.

He believes that the BJP wants to diminish the state's significance, which was evident in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government's reaction when Ghulam Nabi Azad compared the two states during a speech in the Rajya Sabha. Azad showcased how Jammu and Kashmir was faring much better in various sectors, which Abdullah believes irked the Central leadership.

The JKNC-Congress alliance is not only focused on reversing the BJP's actions but also on ensuring the state's progress and prosperity. Farooq Abdullah points out that in the past decade, the BJP-led administration has brought nothing but hardship to Jammu and Kashmir, and the people now yearn for a change. "If people want their rights back, if they want justice and development, this alliance is crucial," he added.

Abdullah added that the joint strategy of JKNC and Congress focusses on reclaiming the lost status of Jammu and Kashmir, rebuilding the economy and ensuring that the state's distinct identity is preserved.

With this alliance, they aim to restore the people's faith in democracy and provide an alternative vision for the future, countering the BJP's attempts to what the alliance calls, altering the political landscape of the region.