Anantnag, Aug 2: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday questioned the Centre’s claim that terrorism had ended in Jammu and Kashmir, demanding that the identities of those behind the recent killings in Kulgam and Anantnag be made public.
Referring to the killing of two migrant labourers in Kulgam and a policeman in Anantnag, Abdullah said the government must explain where the attackers were coming from if the borders were fully secured.
“If borders are sealed, where are terrorists coming from? They should tell the people who is carrying out these killings. All we are told is that terrorists killed them,” Abdullah told reporters in Bijbehara.
He said identifying the attackers was essential to verify the government’s repeated claim that terrorism had been eliminated after the August 5, 2019 constitutional changes.
“You claimed terrorism has ended after August 5, 2019. You have been beating the drum of eliminating terrorism everywhere. Let the people and the whole world see who these killers are,” he said.
The former chief minister also renewed his demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, saying the Centre had yet to honour its commitment.
“We have been asking for statehood. Why are you not restoring it?” he asked.
Dismissing criticism from the BJP over his remarks linking the recent attacks to the statehood issue, Abdullah said, “They are only doing politics.”
Abdullah had earlier questioned the timing of attacks, as the demand for statehood restoration was gaining ground.
He also voiced concern over the situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), where regional elections have witnessed violence.
“They are our brothers, and we are pained by what they are going through. The United Nations Human Rights Commission (UHRC) should send a delegation there to assess the situation firsthand,” he said, adding that while the international community’s silence is surprising, our country has not said anything about it.
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