National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Friday reiterated his call for the immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a crucial step to resolve the myriad of issues facing the region.
After paying obeisance at the Gurudwara Sahib in Chand Nagar on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev’s 555th birth anniversary, Abdullah hoped for greater political representation of the Sikh community, asserting that one day, Sikhs will not only have roles in the government, but also in the Assembly to effectively raise and address their issues.
The veteran NC leader was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and Cabinet minister Javaid Rana,
“The Central government should restore statehood to J-K at the earliest as it will help resolve most of our problems,” Abdullah said.
Urging the Sikh community to draw inspiration from Guru Nanak Dev, he said, “On this sacred day, demand with strength that our conditions improve and we become free from bureaucratic dominance.”
Criticising bureaucratic governance, Abdullah said, “In the past, officials did not listen to the people. Today, however, people look towards the ministers with hope, expecting them to address their concerns and take the right decisions.”
Reflecting on his previous tenure (as J-K chief minister), Abdullah said, “When I returned as the chief minister in 1996, my first priority was to ensure your representation because you deserved to have your voices heard.