FAROOQ WINS SRINAGAR BYPOLL
Vows to address issue of Kashmir for acceptable ‘solution’
NC president Farooq Abdullah says the bypoll was ‘bloodiest’ that J&K had known.
Opposition National Conference (NC) president and three-time Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, who won the closelywatched by-poll for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Saturday demanded the imposition of Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that the PDP-BJP government has “totally failed” on all fronts particularly law and order.
Soon after being declared the winner, 79year-old Mr Abdullah said that in view of the deteriorating law and order situation and growing discontent among the people against the ruling dispensation he appeals President Pranab Mukherjee to impose Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir immediately.
He however, also said that he wanted to thank the people “who despite all odds and hardships voted for me”. He asserted, “The people of my constituency have clearly rejected People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and shown contempt to its policies and actions.
The state government in has totally and miserably failed to deliver. It failed to provide conducive atmosphere for the by-polls. People are suffering because of its flawed policies and actions”.
Replying questions, he said that he would work towards securing Article 370 of the Constitution which guarantees special status to Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian union in its original form and seek meaningful and result-oriented talks involving all stakeholders towards finding an amicable and lasting solution to the Kashmir problem. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered enormously and can’t afford more miseries, bloodshed and mayhem. The time has come to address the issue of Kashmir politically to find a solution which should be acceptable to one and all,” he said.