Farooq Abdullah said he was not against taking support from independent candidates, but he would not ‘go and beg’ for it. Abdullah said that he is welcome if he feels that he can strengthen the state. It should be their initiative. They should do good to the people.
Ahead of the counting of votes for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Monday said his party was not against Mehbooba Mufti’s support from the PDP to form the government in the Union Territory. . Keeping himself out of the race for the post of Chief Minister, Abdullah said that full statehood should be restored to Jammu and Kashmir so that the new government would have the power to solve the problems of the people.
He said that the state should be restored. Full state status, where the government has the power to act. I will not become Chief Minister. This one thing should be clear. I have worked as Chief Minister. My problem is how we can form a strong government and fulfill the agenda that we have put before the people.
Asked if the National Conference-Congress alliance would seek support from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if needed, Abdullah said, “Why not?” He said what does it matter? If we all work for one thing, to improve the condition of the people of the state, to remove unemployment, to remove all the problems that have happened in the last 10 years. The first thing we need to do is restore freedom of the press. We should have the right to say what is true and what is false. We may be rivals in elections but I don’t mind and I’m sure Congress won’t mind either.
The National Conference president said he was not against taking support of independent candidates, but he would not ‘go and beg’ for it. “If they feel they can strengthen the state, they are welcome,” Abdullah said. It should be their initiative. He should do good to people.”
Regarding exit polls, Abdullah said that he is not enthusiastic about these exercises. “Exit polls can be wrong or right,” he said. When the ballot boxes are opened and the votes are counted, the truth will emerge. We hope that the coalition will form a stable government. That is what we want.” Abdullah also criticized the BJP-led Center for ignoring Jammu.
He said that I have just returned from Jammu, I have seen the bad condition of Jammu. I have seen bad roads there, there are no street lights and still they (BJP) think that Jammu is in their pocket. People of Jammu should understand where they have been taken. They used to abuse us that the National Conference government has discriminated against Jammu. Today his people are sitting in Delhi. How did they forget Jammu?
