08-04-2023 : Farooq Abdullah, the National Conference President and Member of Parliament, recently expressed his frustration with the Indian government’s reluctance to hold Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite claims by the government that the security situation in the region has improved and that delimitation exercises have been completed, the government continues to delay elections using new excuses, Abdullah said while speaking to journalists during a visit to south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Abdullah questioned the government’s double talk on the matter, noting that while the Centre claims that the situation has normalized in Jammu and Kashmir, one of the local IGs has said that militancy has declined but not over. Abdullah asked why the government is holding back from holding elections if the indices of security have improved.
Abdullah’s criticism of the government also extended to the removal of chapters related to Mughal history from NCERT books. Calling it a “sheer mockery”, Abdullah asked how the country can hide its architectural and cultural heritage, including the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, and many other fascinating buildings and structures. He pointed out that these are historical and cultural insignias of the Mughals spread across the country that cannot be erased, and that history remains unchanged.
Abdullah’s visit to Anantnag district was part of his tour of the region to meet party workers and sympathizers. He also visited Kokernag to offer condolences on the death of Choudhary Amjad Ali Khatana, the brother of senior party leader Choudhary Zaffar Ali Khatana.