Be ready to make sacrifices like farmers to get our rights: Abdullah

NT Correspondent

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said that as the farmers struggled for 11 months to force the Union Government to repeal the three farm laws, “we may also have to make sacrifices like that to take back our rights.”

Abdullah addressed party workers on the birth anniversary of his father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on Sunday, and said they were ready to make any sacrifice to bring back articles 370, 35A, and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. “After the last 11 months, more than 700 farmers died. They (union government) had to repeal the three farm bills when the farmers rendered sacrifices. We may also have to make sacrifices like that to take back our rights,” said Abdullah. “Remember, we have promised to bring back articles 370, 35A and statehood. We are ready to give any sort of sacrifice.”

The top NC leader also reacted to the statement made by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah who recently said that tourism has increased in Kashmir.

Without naming him, Abdullah questioned if tourism is everything for people in the Valley. “You had promised that 50,000 people will get jobs. Where are the jobs now?” he asked. “Instead of the new jobs, the government is snatching jobs.”

Abdullah also talked about the pressure on the local media in the valley, stating that if anyone writes anything “they don’t like”.

On the recent controversial Hyderpora encounter, in which four people were killed, Abdullah said three innocent were killed and bodies were returned to the families only after they raise voices.