New Delhi, CNI: Reacting to National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah’s statement questioning whether the central government has eliminated terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey on Sunday labelled it as a sign of frustration among NC, PDP, and Congress leaders, saying that the BJP will form the government in the region.
“Has terrorism not ended? Could you ever roam around downtown (Srinagar) or was there 60-70 per cent polling? So what is Farooq Sahib talking about? I once told him that I have seen more areas of Kashmir than he has. I know the pulse of Kashmir. This is the frustration of NC, PDP, and Congress leaders… I think BJP will make government in J-K,” Dubey said.
Earlier, Farooq Abdullah criticized the central government’s development performance in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in comparison to the progress made during the period of Article 370.
He referenced Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha, which compared Jammu and Kashmir’s development to that of Gujarat, emphasizing that significant progress was made while Article 370 was in effect.
“When Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad compared two states in the Rajya Sabha the numbers showed that J&K was much above Gujarat…The governments here did it and they did it when Article 370 was in effect. We made progress. But what development did they give us in these years? Were prices reduced, and unemployment reduced?…Don’t wait till the last bullet is off. Take the bull by the horns. I want to ask the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, did they remove terrorism?” Abdullah said.
Jammu and Kashmir is voting for its 90-member assembly in three phases. The first phase of voting took place on September 18
Notably, a voter turnout of 61.13 pc was registered in the first phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, which were held on 24 constituencies in seven districts on September 18.
Voting for the second and third phases in J-K will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively. Votes will be counted on October 8. CNI