Emergency parallel unfortunate: NC

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 21

The National Conference (NC) has described as “unfortunate” the parallel being drawn between the obtaining situation in J&K with that of 1975 Emergency in a bid to justify detention of political leaders, including sitting MP and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.

“This comparison by none other than the BJP itself clearly reflect their parochial mindset and hypocrisy. The comparison is ridiculous and so is the justification, not only because the BJP has all along apparently remained in the forefront to assail and oppose the Emergency but it also exposes the inherent contradictions within the ruling party at the Centre about the Kashmir situation,” an NC spokesperson said in a statement.

The NC spokesperson was reacting to the reported assertion of the Union Minister of State for Home in Parliament saying that 30 MPs were detained by the Congress during the Emergency while responding to the Opposition demand for allowing Farooq Abdullah to attend the ongoing session.

The spokesman said the statement of the Union Minister of State for Home was admission of the fact that J&K was virtually reeling under the dark phase of Emergency.

“This is a cause of concern and worry for democratic people who have offered numerous sacrifices to uphold the high values of democracy in the country for over seven decades,” he said, adding that such a statement betrayed the idea of India.

The spokesperson said the Union Minister of State for Home was also contradicting the claim of his own Home Minister who has described the situation in J&K as normal.

He added that if the situation was normal then why there was communication blockade and continued detention of political leaders.