Veteran pro-India politician and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today made an unusual remark and said the Kashmiri militants are treading path of militancy for independence and not for becoming legislators or ministers.Accusing New Delhi of betraying his father Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and people of Kashmir, Farooq said that the militants have volunteered themselves for the cause of independence and the present generation no more fears the guns.“Our children are sacrificing their lives. They don’t want to become MLA, MP or minister but they are demanding their right,” he said during a party function organized at Nawai Subh Complex in Srinagar, adding: “The new generation is come out for independence of this nation.” Farooq said that people of Kashmir are not enemies of India or Pakistan but their demand is only justice with them.
He said that the promises made with Kashmiris were never fulfilled and the present cycle of violence in Kashmir is as a result of broken promises. “The promises which you made with us in 1948 were also not fulfilled,” he said, adding that the friendship between India and Pakistan is vital for the peace and calm in the entire region.Faroooq Abdullah said the remarks of Army Chief over Kashmiris rushing to the encounter sites is unfortunate and if any problem has to be solved that will be done by dialogue and not guns or bullets. He stated that dialogue is the only way and that is the path all should tread.The former chief minister also expressed his sadness over the wave of bomb attacks in Pakistan and said that innocent persons are dying in the country everyday. The NC president castigated PDP for allying with BJP and said they are also responsible for the present situation in Kashmir Valley.(GNS)