Firdous Hassan
Baramulla, Dec 2: National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah Sunday blamed the former separatist leader Abdul Ghani Lone for introducing “gun-culture in the valley.”
While addressing reporters, he said Lone, later in his life, was “remorseful” of it.
“I know Sajad Lone blames me for everything but if I do the same then he won’t be able to reply. It was his father who introduced this gun culture in the valley,” he said.
“Soon after I was dismissed by Governor Jagmohan, his (Sajad Lone’s) father came to me and said that he will go to Pakistan to bring gun. I urged him not to take this step as I knew it will destroy our people especially youth and property,” he said.
Farooq said Lone was later “regretful and accepted his mistake”.
“He later came to me once again and sought forgiveness,” he said.
The NC Patron claimed the idea of grand alliance with Congress and Peoples Democratic Party was not a “permanent government” saying the coalition government if formed had to break.
On the sidelines of a function in Baramulla, Farooq said the grand alliance was “envisaged to save” the special status of the state.
“We were not power hungry nor did we take that step to enjoy power. We actually wanted to restrain Kashmir from entering into a situation which is currently prevailing under the Governor’s rule,” he said.
Farooq said all these parties, irrespective of the differences, “pledged” to save the Article 370 and 35-A, against which petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court of India.
“Article 35-A was to be defended and it was big thing for Kashmir. The coalition if formed had to collapse as people had to decide which party they wanted to see in power. NC, Congress and PDP had difference paths and we only met for the benefit of the state,” he said.
On allegation leveled against him for being “power hungry”, Farooq said: “Those especially the Governor who says we are power hungry, I want them to remember the time when Jagmohan was selected as Governor of the state. I chose honour of the people over my chair, which I still do,” he said.
