Expressing serious concern over the deteriorating law and order scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, said on Monday that “the continuous spree of killings has led to a situation where our youth are being pushed into an area of confrontation and later become the unfortunate victims of this conflict”.

Farooq Abdullah, who was speaking in a meeting of the party in Srinagar, said “being the head of the state and of the unified command, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has failed completely to put a stop to civilian casualties. It’s time for both PDP as well as BJP to do some introspection and listen to voices from the ground and do some course correction which I am afraid to say is too late.”

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was also present at the meeting.
Farooq reiterated the party’s resolve to ensure all the three regions of the state stay united, to protect the states special status and to defeat forces inimical to peace, dignity and prosperity of the state.

Asking party leaders to empower youth and make them part of the decision-making process, Farooq said, “We have to prioritise our outreach to the youth of the state and make all efforts to empower them in every possible way. Their outlook towards things is different but not divisive. We need to encourage that and provide them with all our assistance.”

Blaming the state government as well as the central government for the rapidly deteriorating situation in the state, Farooq said: “Deaths, communal polarisation, chaos, anarchy have engulfed all the three regions of the state.”

While taking stock of the emerging situation across the state, Farooq Abdullah said, “Under the present PDP-BJP government, people of the state are being pitted against one another along regional and religious lines. This is being done with a design to seek specific political dividends by the ruling regime. BJP government at the Centre instead of helping us get out of this vortex of violence is watching as a mute spectator. They seem to have given up on the state and have so far failed in bringing in a workable, practical and sensible way-out. When it comes to Kashmir, the present leadership of BJP is so dogmatic in their approach that they are not ready to listen to reason.”