Centre's approach towards Kashmir miscalculated: Farooq

Claiming the the Centre's approach was "persistently miscalculated", opposition National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said today that "half-hearted" measures for the resolution of the Kashmir issue should be stopped.

"It is because of their persistently miscalculated approach that Kashmir has been going through the turmoil of worst kind. (Due to) Their repeated deception that people of Kashmir do not even have an iota of faith in the central government and its political initiatives," he alleged at a public rally in Machil inKupwara district.

The opposition leader claimed that the government's policies were breeding feelings of estrangement and dissociation among the people of the state.
 

"New Delhi should understand that iron fist and subjugation has never yielded positive results anywhere. Same is the case with Kashmir where it's because of these things that situation has deteriorated over the years. It is high time that the policy makers realize the gravity of situation and start to look at Kashmir empathetically and not merely as a law and order problem," he said.

The NC president said that Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to the Union of India on three conditions unique to the state.

It has been recorded and accepted in the Indian Constitution as well, so we are not like any other state in India, he said adding that autonomy should be restored.

He said the best political initiative from BJP government at the Centre would have been taking steps to restore faith of people by showing sincerity in addressing Kashmir issue.

"Instead there has been a well planned and executed political conspiracy to aggravate the situation by fiddling with Article 35 A and Article 370 of Indian Constitution, not once but consistently," he added.

He alleged the state government had neglected local governance.

"I am in utter shock and disbelief that through my tour of LoC areas I did not see any sign of government. Peoples' plight has no listeners," he claimed.