Autonomy Demand Not To Weaken Ties With Union

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said the demand for greater autonomy was not to weaken the ties of the state with rest of the country nor it was to secede from it.

He said some elements in the country had unleashed misinformation campaign on this issue and added we will strive for achieving the sacred commitments made at the time of accession of the state.

He said the report of the autonomy panel would be placed before the people and would be discussed threadbare and a consensus would be arrived. He said that a handful of Huriyat leaders and Pakistan can no more stop peace process in the state.

The state is set on the path of peace and reconstruction, Abdullah declared amidst applause while addressing a public meeting organised to commemorate the 16th death anniversary of Shiekh Abdullah at Mazar-i-Qaid on Monday.

Farooq lashed out at Pakistan and asked the country to read the writing on the wall and concentrate on the welfare of her neglected people rather than wasting money and energy in fomenting trouble in our state.

Abdullah declared that Pakistan cannot succeed in grabbing Kashmir and added her threat and intimidation have been received with contempt by the people of the state and only a handful of Huriyat men were furthering Pakistans interests in Kashmir.

These elements were receiving directions and funds from their foreign masters and had free access in Pakistani embassy in the country, he said.

Abdullah disclosed that he had many a times told Pakistani delegations at New York and Geneva during various international conferences about the futility of their mischievous gameplan in Kashmir and their destined defeat.

The Chief Minister, however, said Pakistan will continue to indulge in mischief and expressed confidence that the spirit of people would not be dampened. They may kill soft targets and even they may target me but our march to peace and prosperity will not stop, he added.