Page 4 - Farooq Abdullah

Lord Ram belongs to everyone, not only Hindus, says Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Sunday that Lord Ram belongs to everyone, not only Hindus. Abdullah was addressing the opposition INDIA bloc's Ulgulan Naya Maharally' in Ranchi. Without naming any party, he said, They are selling Lord Ram, claiming that they brought him. They do not know Lord Ram. He does not belong to Hindus alone but to the world. Ram is for everyone. But they have made Ram their own, claiming He is only theirs. Attacking the saffron party, Abdullah said that it got scared of the popularity of former chief minister Hemant Soren and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. They were put behind the bar without any fault, he said. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. He is lodged in Tihar jail. The ED also arrested Soren on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land fraud, immediately after his resigna

This is not end of Farooq Abdullah's career, says NC leader Omar Abdullah

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Saturday said his father Farooq Abdullah's not contesting the Lok Sabha polls does not signal an end to his electoral career. "With my father, I have learnt over time that you never say never, ever. So until the very last breath, and may God give him many more of them, do not ever write him off for anything," Omar told PTI. The National Conference vice president was responding to a question whether the senior Abdullah might stage a comeback when assembly elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir. In response to a question about his sons - Zahir and Zameer -- being groomed for active politics, the former J-K chief minister said they have done nothing that warrants such a conjecture. "As far as my sons are concerned, what have they done? Have they made speeches, have they got mandates, have they done any active politics? As sons or grandsons, they help out wherever they are needed. We hosted a party (Iftar party), if they help as part of the

Elections 2024: Farooq Abdullah to not contest polls, cites health reasons

Farooq Abdullah, National Conference (NC) president and MP for Srinagar, opts out of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls due to health concerns

BJP wants to replicate Russia, China like rule, says Farooq Abdullah

The BJP wants to replicate Russia- and China-like rule in the country, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah claimed on Tuesday and said the INDIA bloc has come forward to safeguard the Constitution, even at the cost of "our lives". He also targeted the Centre over the issue of the Katchatheevu island, handed over to Sri Lanka in the 1970s, and asked why the BJP-led Centre is silent on the "continuous incursion" by China in Ladakh and its claims over land in Arunachal Pradesh. "The INDIA bloc has been formed to safeguard the Constitution because there is apprehension that the Constitution will be finished (by the BJP) The same thing will happen here (in India) as (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and China President (Xi Jinping) are sitting there. They (the BJP) are making attempts as they want to rule the country for life (without any opposition)," Abdullah told reporters. "INDIA will not allow this to happen and protect the Constitution given by (BR) Amdedkar, even at the co

NC to win 3 LS seats in Kashmir, 'INDIA' will grow: Farooq Abdullah

After PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed unhappiness over the National Conference's decision to contest all three Lok Sabha constituencies in Kashmir, NC president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said both parties are part of the INDIA coalition and the NC will win the seats for the alliance. Mehbooba Mufti had on Friday said that the NC's decision was "disappointing" and a "setback to the hopes of the people of J&K". She also accused the NC of reducing their Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to a "joke". I do not know what she (Mufti) had said National Conference stands on its own feet and has won three seats (in the 2019 general elections). We are part of the alliance and she is also part of the alliance. If the National Conference wins (these seats) again, they will win it for the INDIA alliance and so what is the problem, Abdullah told reporters here. The NC leader said he is sure that the INDIA alliance will always grow because it is needed for the future of India ...

National Conference will contest Lok Sabha elections alone: Farooq Abdullah

Abdullah was earlier this month summoned by the ED in connection with a money laundering case about the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association

ED issues fresh summons to Farooq Abdullah in JKCA money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate has issued a fresh summons to National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah for questioning in a money laundering case pertaining to the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), official sources said Monday. He has been asked to depose at the ED office in Srinagar Tuesday. The 86-year-old politician was last called by the central agency in this case on January 11 but he did not appear before it. He is not expected to appear at the Srinagar office of the central agency this time too, sources close to him said. The ED investigation pertains to alleged financial irregularities at the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. The MP from Srinagar was charge-sheeted by the Enforcement Directorate in this case in 2022. The case relates to siphoning off JKCA funds by way of transfer to various personal bank accounts of unrelated parties, including those of JKCA office-bearers, and by way of unexplained cash withdrawals from its bank accounts, the ED ha

ED summons Farooq Abdullah for questioning in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday for questioning in a money laundering case, official sources said on Wednesday. The 86-year-old politician is understood to have been called in connection with the federal agency's investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA). The MP from Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was charge-sheeted by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case in 2022. The case relates to siphoning off the funds of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association by way of transfer to various personal bank accounts of unrelated parties, including those of JKCA office bearers, and by way of unexplained cash withdrawals from JKCA bank accounts, the ED had said. The agency's case is based on a 2018 charge-sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the same accused. The summons have asked Abdullah, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, to depose at

Kashmir's flawed hero

Chitralekha Zutshi's book on Sheikh Abdullah is outstanding, and there is much to learn for readers irrespective of their political affiliations

J&K could become 'Gaza' without dialogue between India-Pakistan: Farooq

Invoking former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the National Conference President said while speaking to ANI, "Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said that we can change our friends but not our neighbours "

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48-hour encounter in Kokernag, Kashmir; 3 officers killed, soldier missing

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah's comments that there are encounters daily in Jammu & Kashmir draws criticism from Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar

MoS blames Farooq Abdullah's politics for scourge of terrorism in Kashmir

Reacting to National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah's statement that "there are encounters daily" in Jammu and Kashmir and thereby questioning the claim of the Centre of normalcy in the Union territory, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday said that the politics of Abdullah and his family has been responsible for the scourge of terrorism in the Valley. "Farooq Abdullah and his family have ruled, misruled and misgoverned Jammu and Kashmir for many many years. Their politics have primarily been responsible for decades of deprivation and J & K people's suffering from lack of rights, economic opportunities and the scourge of terrorism," Chandrasekhar said while talking to ANI."So I think that he is the least appropriate person to comment on what is right and wrong for the people of Jammu and Kashmir," the Union Minister added. While questioning the claims of normalcy in the Union Territory Farooq Abdullah also pitched for peace talks.Speaking to the media in Budgam, ...

G20 meet 'normal process', but it is better forum than UN: Farooq Abdullah

The G20 forum is better than the United Nations as 20 countries discuss their issues and look for solutions, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said here on Friday. However, he stressed that the G20 meeting take place in every member country on a rotational basis and it is a normal process. G20 (meeting) is a normal process. It rotates between the 20 countries. It is a good forum where these 20 countries put themselves together and discuss their issues and look for their solutions. It is a good forum rather than the UN where there are so many countries, Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a party function here. When asked what the holding of the meeting in India means for the country, Abdullah said such meetings take place in every member country on a rotational basis. Did the G20 not take place in the other countries? It will happen in Brazil next year, then rotate again, the NC president said. When asked whether he had received the invitation for the dinner ho

India-Pak should hold talks on Kashmir issue with honesty: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said promoting border tourism or holding rallies in Jammu and Kashmir is only a tamasha which will go on until India and Pakistan hold talks with honesty on the Kashmir issue. "The hearts of both the countries should be pure. There has been enough show-off," the Srinagar MP told reporters here when asked whether the situation in Kashmir had changed as border tourism is being promoted and Tiranga rallies are being organised across the valley. India and Pakistan should talk with pure intentions as wars do not resolve anything, Abdullah said. "Till both the countries do not talk with honesty over the Kashmir issue, all this is a show-off (and) this tamasha will go on till then. It will happen every year but the issue will remain there," he said. Raising questions over the government's claims of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, the NC president asked if there is peace in Jammu and Kashmir, then why is there terrorism, why are

We hope PM speaks in Parliament soon on Manipur situation: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said opposition parties want peace in strife-torn Manipur and hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in Parliament soon on the situation in the state. A delegation of 21 MPs from the opposition bloc INDIA reached Imphal on Saturday to assess the ground situation in the state. They will visit several relief camps to meet with victims of the ethnic clashes that broke in the northeastern state on May 3. "A delegation of the opposition has gone to Manipur. When they return, we will get to know from them about the situation there," Abdullah told reporters here. "We want peace to be established there so that those who live there can live in peace and the communal fight which has started be stopped. We should try to live together. A solution will come only when all the communities there live with dignity," the Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar said. Referring to the recent video of two women being paraded in Manipur, Abdullah said

Wolves hunt in packs but they can't hunt lion: Smriti Irani on Oppn meeting

Union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani on Saturday took a jibe at the meeting of opposition parties held in Patna, saying wolves hunt in packs but they do not know that they cannot hunt a lion. She also alleged that the target of Friday's opposition conclave was not Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "but the people of the country and the exchequer". "As soon as I came to Indore, the media asked me what my reaction was to the Opposition's gathering in Patna yesterday," Irani said addressing a public gathering organised here to mark the completion of the Modi government's nine years in power. There is a saying in English that wolves hunt in packs but they do not know that they can't hunt a lion," Irani said. She also spoke at an event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party to mark the completion of nine years of the Modi government. Prominent women from Indore were invited to this programme. "There has been a gathering (of Opposition parties), but its target was not Modi, but you

Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti to attend Oppn meet in Bihar: Report

Jammu and Kashmir stalwarts Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti will be coming to the Bihar capital next week for the June 23 conclave of parties opposed to the BJP, a key political aide of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Sunday. JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' made the disclosure at the party's Bihar headquarters here. "Leaders of altogether 18 parties have agreed to attend the meeting. National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, both former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, have also agreed to come", said Lalan. Earlier, Lalan had said leaders who had given their assent included Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge from Congress, besides Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), Mamata Banerjee (TMC), M K Stalin (DMK), Hemant Soren (JMM), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Akhilesh Yadav (SP) and Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT). JD(U) workers expressed their enthusiasm by raising "Nitish for PM" only to be ticked off by the national president who reminded them that the

Farooq Abdullah meets Deve Gowda, emphasises on unity of regional parties

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday emphasised upon regional parties coming together to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha election as it was necessary to save the country from being divided on religious lines. The National Conference president denounced films like 'Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story', saying they were destroying India and its constitution by dividing people. Speaking to reporters after meeting former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda at his residence, the leader said India's diversity should be protected. "My message to everyone is India is unity in diversity. Let us protect the diversity. It will protect the unity of the country," Abdullah said responding to a query on the need to have a third front. When asked whether it was necessary for the regional parties to come together to fight the 2024 election against the BJP, Abdullah said, "The question is not BJP, it is the question of the nation. Do you want the nation to be divided on religious

Kashmir's situation won't improve till India, Pak hold dialogue: Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said holding the G20 event in Kashmir will not benefit tourism in the Valley till India and Pakistan resolve the "future" of the Union Territory through dialogue. He also said Jammu and Kashmir was suffering heavy losses because of the lack of an elected government. "The question is whether we will benefit in terms of tourism arrivals from these countries? That cannot happen till the situation here does not improve and the situation will not improve till the two big countries do not hold dialogue on how to shape the future of this state," Abdullah told reporters here. The NC president was responding to a question whether holding of the G20 meeting in Srinagar would benefit the union territory. "We did. The roads which were in bad shape for many years were repaired. The walls got a fresh coat of paint. The street lights started working. So we did benefit from it," he said. Over lack of an elected government in J and K, Abdulla