India faces threat from within, not outside, says NC president

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that there was no external threat to India but one from within.

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“The country demands sacrifice even today to save itself. India does not face a threat from outside but from within. People inside the country can destroy it, not those from outside. To make the nation strong, we must make ourselves, our brothers, and our sisters strong,” said Abdullah.

Addressing the NC workers and leader at Jammu, Abdullah questioned that when there are 80 percent Hindus in this country, where is the threat coming from? He said that the divisive politics is meant to create fear among people. “It is everyone’s duty to break this falsehood,” he said.

Reflecting on historical narratives, he recalled misinformation during his tenure as chief minister in 1996 regarding the settlement of people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“It was falsely propagated that they would come and take over your lands. I repeatedly clarified that no one could settle here without the Union Home Ministry’s approval, yet no one listened,” he added.

Commenting on the abrogation of Article 370, Farooq Abdullah said the special provision was not for people of Kashmir but was introduced by the Dogra Maharaja Hari Singh in 1927 to protect Dogras from economic domination by wealthy Punjabis.

“You (people of Jammu) celebrated the abrogation, but now even domestic jobs are going to outsiders. Servants are being brought in from outside. Think about what you have gained,” he remarked.

He said “I am a Muslim, and I am an Indian Muslim. I am neither a Chinese nor a Pakistani Muslim. But this propaganda persists. Even Hindu members of the NC were once branded as Pakistanis”.

Abdullah highlighted the need for a united effort towards nation-building, stating, “This country can only progress when all of us are happy and united. India is diverse, comprising various races and regions, and our strength lies in our unity amid diversity.”

‘Train to Kashmir likely to face delay of few months ’

Jammu: Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that the Katra-Sangaldan train service is likely to be delayed by a few months and will begin operations in April with the onset of the tourism season.

Talking to reporters, Abdullah said he was preparing to travel to Srinagar onboard the train on January 25.

“I heard that the train (to Kashmir) will face a two-month delay due to some incomplete works. Those works are being attended to and they will start the train in April with the onset of the tourism season,” the former chief minister said.

In December last year, the Railway Ministry announced the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, the work that was started in 1997 to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country.

The railway authorities conducted several trial runs on various sections including the Katra-Srinagar track besides the statutory inspection by Commissioner of Railway Safety, Northern Circle, Dinesh Chand Deshwal in the past one month, brightening the chances of early operationalization of the service.