Farooq Abdullah pitches for opening all traditional routes along LoC

Baramulla, Dec 2: National Conference Patron, Farooq Abdullah Sunday said that “Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK) should be left for Pakistan to rule.”

While addressing media in Baramulla, Farooq said the friendly relations between Indian and Pakistan were imperative for the peace within the state.

“NC always supported friendly relations between India and Pakistan as it is much needed for Kashmir. The day these two countries become true friends, Kashmir issue would automatically get resolved,” he said during a gathering at Dewan Bagh here.

“I still say that Kashmir is a part of India and Azad Kashmir (PaK) should be left to them (Pakistan),” he said.

Prior to it, the NC patron, while addressing the party workers, urged the India and Pakistan to open all the routes along LoC and international border “that have become vestigial post partition”

“Both should imitate the spirit of Kartarpur Corridor in the state of Jammu and Kashmir by opening all the routes along LoC and international border that have become vestigial post partition,” he said.

He said the J&K’s topography afforded the state a geographical dividend that ceased to persist post 1947.

“This initiative will not only help boost the economic activities on both sides of the border besides, it will also help rekindle the flame of friendship between India and Pakistan. The increased people to people contact and other CBMs can go a long way in doing away with the mistrust,” he said.

Farooq also advocated the opening of the Sharada Peeth temple in PaK for Kashmiri Pandits on the pattern of Kartarpur Corridor.

Asked whether the National Conference would have some different proposal than the demand for internal autonomy if it comes to power in Jammu and Kashmir, he said “the autonomy is his party’s only proposal to improve Centre-state relationship.”

Speaking on the Centre’s stand on the party’s demand for autonomy he said, “The Centre cannot reject that demand as the people of the state have absolute power to raise it under the constitution,” he asserted.

Referring to the alteration in the structure and working of various institutions in the state, he said, “At a time when a popularly elected government is not in place it is highly unbecoming of the state governor administration to fiddle with our institutions. The recent onslaught of SAC on the prime financial institution of our state is a point in case.”

“I urge the incumbent administration to roll back the SAC decision of converting JK Bank into a PSU, it will prove detrimental to working of the bank,” Farooq added.