Mumbai: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday stressed on dialogue with all stakeholders including the Hurriyat to resolve issue of the ‘Ghati’ (valley). He claimed the valley is currently under fear and could “blast” any time soon after terrorist Burhan Wani was shot dead by security forces.
Mr Abdullah said there is no option other than to continue dialogue with extremists if India wants to resolve the issue. “In BJP really wants the Kashmir valley to become normal, the government must talk with all groups including the extremist group Hurriyat. It’s not me who is suggesting the dialogue, in fact the agreement between ruling alliance People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stated that they will speak with extremists to bring peace to the Ghati,” said the former Union minister.
Praising former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Pakistan policy, Mr Abdullah said Mr Vajpayee began the Amritsar-Lahore bus route and had visited Lahore to calm the tensions between both the neighbours.
Commenting on the demonetisation decision taken by Mr Modi, Mr Abdullah said the decision is good but the implementation is bad. “He should have to made arrangements for the new currency, they have to keep both the new and removed currency in the market in use for a while and then remove it completely. If (Mr Modi) had implemented it properly, nobody will die standing in queue for getting cash,” he said.
Replying to a question on black money, Mr Abdullah said the use of black money would not end in India. There is no any political party, that does not work on black money, he said. “When the state Assembly election will be held, we will see who will use choppers and flights for the election campaign. That will prove whether demonetisation has put an end to black money in the market,” he said.
