Farooq Abdullah

Opposition has to unite to win elections against BJP: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said opposition parties will have to unite if they want to win elections against the BJP. The Lok Sabha member from Srinagar also said that discussions are going on and "I can see good results coming on the unity front (at the national level)". "Alliance is the only thing which will unite us. We cannot fight individually. That is why even the opposition parties at the national level are trying to find ways to unite so that we can win the elections," Abdullah said in response to a question by reporters at Larnoo in Anantnag district. He had gone to Larnoo to attend a condolence meeting. Asked about the issue of removal of certain portions related to Mughals from textbooks, Abdullah said history cannot be erased. "How will they forget Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, Akbar, Babar, Humayun and Jahangir? They ruled for 800 years. No Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian felt threatened. When they will show Taj Mahal, what will they say who bu

Opposition leaders meets CEC, submits memorandum for early polls in J&K

Veteran politician from Jammu and Kashmir and Lok Sabha member Farooq Abdullah led a delegation of leaders from Opposition parties to meet the Election Commission (EC) to press for early assembly polls in the Union Territory. Jammu and Kashmir is without a legislative assembly and an elected government for the last five years, the National Conference (NC) leader said after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar here. "The CEC heard us and has assured that the commission would soon hold a meeting to discuss the issue," Abdullah said. The delegation informed the CEC and other members of the commission that the government has been claiming of restoring normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir and that now the onus is on the EC (to hold assembly elections), he said. "So, we asked why was the commission not taking note of the plight of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Abdullah, a three-time chief minister of the erstwhile state, said. In 2019, the Centre abrogated Article

J&K integral part of India: Abdullah demands restoration of statehood

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Saturday stressed again that Jammu and Kashmir is an intergral part of the india and reiterated the demand for restoration of its statehood.Addresing a press conference at Jammu, former chief minster questioned why elections were not being held in Jammu and kashmir. "It is very strange""Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The people of J & K belong to this nation. We want statehood to be restored & elections to be held," he said.Farooq termed the decision of the centre to downgrade the state into a union territory a "tragedy"."First time in the history of the nation, a proud state was reduced to a UT, it was a tragedy," Farooq Abdullah, NC chief said.NC Patron said that India is a democratic country where the laws of constitution should be adhered by everyone.On being asked why elections were not being held in Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq said:" I do not have the magical wand to tell media why elections were not being

Hold elections in J&K if situation is normal: Farooq Abdullah to Centre

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said the Centre should hold the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir if its claims on return of normalcy to the Union Territory were true. Abdullah, who is a Lok Sabha member from Srinagar, also accused the central government of playing a gimmick with the people on the issue of the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. They (Centre) doesn't want to restore statehood. It is all a gimmick to mislead us and the world. They won't give it, he told PTI. The question arises that the government of India is saying the situation is normal in JK. The delimitation process has been completed. If elections are held everywhere, why not in Jammu and Kashmir? Abdullah asked. The former chief minister said the Centre has made the Lieutenant Governor the master of everything. Why has the LG been installed here and he has become the master of everything, he said. Asked about the administration issuing new orders enacting fresh la

Reducing Army presence in J-K prerogative of government: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said reducing the Army footprint in Jammu and Kashmir was a prerogative of the government. "That is a matter for the government. How much they will reduce or increase is their prerogative. I have no say in it," he told reporters at the National Conference headquarters here. The Lok Sabha member from Srinagar was responding to questions about a media report which claimed that the government is considering withdrawing the Army from the hinterland in Kashmir in a phased manner. Reacting to the government's reported decision to "halt" demolition drive in the union territory, the former chief minister said "It was due to the opposition of the people". "This has happened because of the noise made by the people. If people had not made noise, they would have intensified the drive. People should remember that they have the power to shake the government," he added.

Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra aims to unite country: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra was meant to unite the country and was against hatred being sown between communities for electoral gains. Stressing that people should unite for each other's welfare, he said hate will only lead to misery. The aim of the Yatra is to unite the nation and break the (walls of) hatred. The message of this march is that unless we unite and think together for the welfare of each other, we cannot make the nation that our forefathers had dreamt of and given sacrifices for, " Abdullah told reporters at Aushmuqam in Anantnag district. The NC president was in the south Kashmir town to attend a condolence meeting. Abdullah said hatred was being spread between communities in the country for "just winning the elections". This approach will not take the nation and people towards prosperity, it will only lead to misery," he added. Referring to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits thre

LIVE: Wrestlers meets Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's for talks again

The death toll stands at 530,728, the data updated at 8 am stated

Terrorism in J-K can be finished only by dialogue with Pak: Farooq Abdullah

Terrorism is alive in Jammu and Kashmir and can only be finished by holding dialogue with Pakistan, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Thursday

J-K can't develop until democratic rights are guaranteed: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has said the idea of all-round development of the people of Jammu and Kashmir will remain elusive until their basic democratic rights are guaranteed and respected. Abdullah said human rights are indispensable and inherent to the dignity of every human being. "The ruling dispensation is using J-K to climb the political ladder nationally by employing a narrative that is not corroborated by ground realities," said the Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar in his message on International Human Rights Day. Far from providing jobs to the youth, the incumbent ruling dispensation at the Centre, which is in direct control of J-K's affairs, has shown the door to hundreds of employed youth, Abdullah alleged. "There is not even a single selection process that hasn't ended in a scam. Our government employees are working under tremendous pressure. The sweeping takeover of labour rights by this government is a major concern for all of us. This trend needs to be

Farooq Abdullah re-elected as NC chief after presidential polls were held

Former chief minister and Lok Sabha member, Dr. Farooq Abdullah was re-elected unopposed as the president of the National Conference (NC) party on Monday

Farooq Abdullah to join Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in J-K

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah will join the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi when it reaches Jammu and Kashmir, a spokesperson of the All Parties United Morcha (APUM) said on Monday. The Jammu-based umbrella organisation of nearly a dozen mainstream parties and social organisations called on Abdullah at his residence here and discussed the need to further strengthen coordination among opposition parties to defeat the designs of "communal and divisive forces'', a spokesperson said. The delegation included leaders of the Congress, the CPM, PDP, IDP and CPI. According to the spokesperson, Abdullah was in agreement with the delegation that opposition parties should mount a more united and coordinated campaign against attempts to create political and social divisions in society and assured that he would work towards strengthening broader unity to "defeat BJP and its sister concerns''. The APUM leaders suggested that a joint convention of major ...

Never joined hands with Pakistan: Farooq Abdullah at rally in J-K's Akhnoor

Former President of the National Conference Farooq Abdullah on Saturday addressed a public rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor district and said that they never joined hands with Pakistan

Will fight next assembly elections: National Conference leader Farooq

Having already announced his decision to step down as president of National Conference, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said he will be contesting the next assembly elections. Abdullah, who on Friday had announced he will be relinquishing the presidency of NC next month, said he is not escaping the responsibility and will continue to work to strengthen the party. "Insha Allah, I am going to fight the next Assembly elections whenever held (in J&K)," Abdullah told reporters here on the sidelines of a function organised to welcome new entrants into the party. Several prominent political activists, including Gurjeet Sharma from Nagrota, joined the National Conference in presence of Abdullah and Jammu provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta. Asked about the next party president, he said the National Conference is a democratic party and the party elections will take place on December 5 to elect a new leader. "People will file their nominations and the .

Farooq Abdullah not to seek re-election as NC chief in Dec 5 polls: Party

National Conference (NC) said its president Farooq Abdullah has refused to seek re-election to the post, elections for which will be held on December 5

I'm still National Conference president, haven't resigned: Farooq Abdullah

"I am still the party chief till elections and till someone else is ready to shoulder responsibilities of this post," he told reporters.

NC chief Farooq Abdullah asks people to stand up against divisive forces

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said peoples' unity is crucial for building India and asked them to stand up against the "divisive forces" trying to weaken the country from within. Abdullah made these remarks while addressing an event to celebrate the 75th birthday of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chagan Bhujbal in Mumbai on Thursday. "Our country is diverse, there is diversity of faiths, cultures and climates. What unites us is our faith. Religion doesn't divide people, it unites. We all together can build India by living with camaraderie, he said, stressing on working towards ensuring unity in the country. The NC president said there are no external threats to the country, "there are divisive forces within the country that are weakening it". We should stop seeing ourselves as Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. I'm an Indian Muslim. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, we have to unite this country, and that can only be achieved by living in friendship," he ...

Mamata ready to bury differences with Cong to form anti-BJP front: Pawar

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee is ready to bury her differences with the Congress in the national interests, and come together to form an alliance of opposition parties ahead of the 2024 general elections. Speaking to reporters here, Pawar also said he and some leaders from other states, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdulla were not averse to join hands with the Congress to form a front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the next polls. Replying to a query about the TMC supremo's alleged differences with the Congress after it independently contested elections in West Bengal, Pawar said, "Mamata Bannerjee had personally said that her party is ready to come together in the national interests and work with Congress to put up a proper challenge before the ruling BJP." According to the former Union minister, Banerjee has also said

Register as voters to defeat vested powers: Farooq Abdullah to J&K natives

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday urged the natives of Jammu and Kashmir to register themselves in the electoral rolls so the "powers" that intend to "import temporary voters to win seats" are defeated. He said the first assembly elections in the Union territory will not just be about electing a government or forming a ministry but protecting Jammu and Kashmir's identity and dignity. "Allowing non-locals to vote in Jammu and Kashmir will be disastrous. The powers that are pitted against NC are so insecure about the support from genuine voters that they have to import temporary voters to win seats," Abdullah said at a workers' convention in Shopian. The Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar said such "nefarious designs" will not help if the people of the now Union territory get to exercise their franchise. "It is for you to stop them No one else can. If you come out and register as voters and subsequently vote in huge numbers, there is nothing that can touch our uniq

Farooq Abdullah skips court hearing in JKCA scam case due to health issues

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah did not appear before the court in a money laundering case related to the alleged financial irregularities in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) here on Saturday due to health issues. As the case, before the court of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, was called, Abdullah's lawyer Ishtiyaq Ahmad Khan said the NC chief is not able to attend the court due to health issues. The judge told Khan that Abdullah should be present in the court on the next date of hearing, which is listed on September 26. The lawyer assured it that the former J-K chief minister will attend that hearing. The court had on July 23 issued summons to Abdullah on a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him and others in the JKCA money laundering case. Abdullah, the Member of Parliament from Srinagar, has been questioned multiple times by the agency in this case. He was the JKCA president from 2001 to 2012 and the scam

Regret Azad leaving Congress when it is going through tough times: Farooq

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday expressed regret over the resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad from the Congress and said he should not have done so when the party was going through tough times. Azad resigned from all party positions on Friday. "I regret it. Ghulam Nabi gave his life to INC. He has worked for it since his college days. He rose to the highest levels in Congress he was a minister in many governments, member of working committee, general secretary. He was a pillar of the Congress party. He was like a family member to Indira, Rajiv, Sanjay Gandhi, Abdullah told reporters here. He said Azad's leaving the party when the Congress is passing through tough times was not good. "Had he left the party when it returned to its route, then it was alright, but leaving it in a vortex is not a good thing to do. Well, it is his decision, I didn't know about it and heard from the media. "I pray that God keep him safe, and pray that he does good work for the people