Kashmir will never become a part of Pak: Farooq Abdullah

“There will be no Pakistan here. Kashmir will never become a part of Pakistan,” Abdullah thundered as the people listened in rapt attention. Abdullah said that only solution to Kashmir was his party’s long standing proposal for autonomy to the state within constitution of India. “ Only autonomy to Kashmir will help restore peace,” he said.

Omar,on the other hand,struck a more moderate tone calling upon separatists to shun hartal politics and facilitate Kashmir solution through a dialogue with Centre. “ Dialogue remains the only way forward,” Omar said. “ If they (separatists) can talk to parliamentarians,there should be no harm in talking to centre”.

However,more than what the leaders said,it was the huge gathering of the NC supporters that was significant. A month back,it looked almost impossible for the party to muster such a large crowd in the city.

People arrived in groups of 100-200,marching between a thick wall of security on both sides of the road. They carried the blood-red banners,NC’s symbolic colour,splashed with smiling photographs of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,Farooq Abdullah and Sheikh Abdullah were ushered into the mausoleum park through a small opening between rolls of concertina wire with all the necessary security precaution.

The groups represented their respective blocks,were led by a block president and shouted the template Muslim slogan,God is great. The groups came from all parts of the Valley,being transported safely through Boulevard around Dal lake to escape the hazardous travel through the edgy downtown city.

For the block president Haji Abdul Ahad Dar of Budgam,the huge gathering was an “answer to the people” who didn’t let them celebrate Sher-i-Kashmir’s death anniversary on September 6 this year. “ There was stone throwing all across the Valley. So we couldn’t celebrate the anniversary in summer. Now here is an answer,” Dar said as he sat with his flock on the roadside waiting for Omar to arrive and show himself up.

It was this enthusiasm among the people that impelled 22 year old Tajamul Hussain,a passerby to exclaim to his friends. “My God,people are pouring in with gusto and dispatch. There is no space left to fill in the park,” Hussain said loudly for all around to hear. However,what could be easily discerned among the crowd hearing Omar and Farooq was the absence of the youth in the 15-25 age bracket,who mostly made up the crowds who took to the streets through summer pelting stones and getting killed.

Uncomfortable at the surprising turn of events,Abdur Rehman Mir from the nearby Dargah locality said that the people at the function come from villages. “ There is none from Srinagar,” he said. However,NC supporters from various parts of the city were duly present among the audience. Abdul Gafar from Khaniyar in downtown city said the NC had a strong support base in Srinagar. “It is only in the city that NC won all its seats in the last Assembly election. The party belongs to all,villages as well as cities,” Gafar said.