ibn sultan
Srinagar: NC president Farooq Abdullah has said that the INIDA bloc, particularly the , Congress has not extended the expected level of strong support for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
In an interview with PTI, he said that although his party remains a part of the alliance, it has not lived up to its potential. He also expressed concern over the absence of a strong and unified strategy within the opposition on issues related to Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah noted that he had hoped the alliance would advocate more vigorously for the restoration of statehood, but that has not happened, which he described as disappointing. He urged the bloc to move beyond being merely an electoral alliance and instead focus seriously on national issues, especially the future of Jammu and Kashmir, through regular meetings.
He made it clear that his party is not, and will never be, part of the , and remains committed to the INDIA bloc. He expressed hope that after elections, the alliance would regroup and address both national and regional issues more effectively.
The former chief minister said the opposition has so far failed to present a leader capable of taking on Prime Minister . He advised opposition leaders to step out of their comfort zones and connect directly with the public.
On the issue of restoring statehood, Abdullah said the Centre has made commitments in Parliament as well as before the , but no clear timeline has been provided. He expressed hope that progress would be made after the conclusion of ongoing state elections.
He also indicated that if these assurances do not materialise, his party may approach the Supreme Court, noting that the court has already directed that statehood be restored “at the earliest.”
In conclusion, Abdullah advised young leaders to act with honesty, focus on eliminating poverty and ignorance, and avoid misleading the public.
