Srinagar, July 29: Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the president of the National Conference and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has called on the central government to speak out about recent events in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). He emphasized that if it belongs to India, silence is not an option.
Speaking to reporters, Dr. Abdullah stated that if the Indian government considers POK an integral part of the country, it must raise concerns about the killings and hardships faced by the people there.
He also expressed worries about student protests, unemployment, drug abuse, and recent security measures in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Abdullah has repeatedly appealed to United Nations human rights organizations, as well as the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, to intervene and pay attention to the situation in POK.
“I have requested the UN Human Rights Commission to visit, assess the conditions, and work towards resolving the issues. I have also appealed to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister,” he said.
Questioning the government’s stance on POK, he noted that while the government often claims the region is an integral part of India, it remains silent on reports of killings and alleged human rights violations.
“They keep saying that POK is ours. If it is your part, why don’t you talk about the events happening there? Why don’t you say that the killings must stop? I have not heard any statement from them,” he remarked.
Regarding the ongoing student-led protests, the NC president warned that if officials do not meet the students’ demands, the movement will continue.
“If promises made to them are not fulfilled, and instead they face FIRs, arrests, and harassment, the movement will persist. The students are awake, and, God willing, they will carry it forward,” he added.
Dr. Abdullah also expressed concern about the rising drug problem among the youth in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that unemployment is one of the region’s biggest challenges.
On July 20, NC legislators planned a protest at Jantar Mantar to demand the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. However, when members of the ‘Cockroach Public Party’ (CPP) were protesting at the same location, the NC had to change its protest venue to Prithviraj Road in New Delhi.
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