People of Kashmir don’t want separation from India : Farooq Abdullah

NEW DELHI - Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah on Thursday making an appeal in the Parliament for a political solution to the Kashmir crisis said most people of Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under Pakistani occupation, want to be with India.

“I plead with my hands folded, try to understand the pulse of Kashmir. People of Kashmir don’t want separation from India. Most Kashmiris want to find a solution to the problems within India. We want to find a solution to the problem within India not in Pakistan, China or in America,” said Abdullah.

“Those in Kashmir demanding ‘azadi’ (independence) have not realised the consequences of such a demand. Kashmir too faces a threat from Taliban elements and a situation similar to Afghanistan and Pakistan will arise in the state too (if independence is granted),” he added, while making a strong plea to political parties in particular the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to understand the sentiments of the people of the State.

Earlier on August 11, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu reacting to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy formula said all political parties must first discuss the proposal for autonomy thoroughly.

“What is autonomy? This has to be discussed thoroughly. The Prime Minister must first table a proposal on Jammu and Kashmir. We are for the total integration of Jammu and Kashmir. All political parties must first discuss the Prime Minister’s proposal,” said Naidu. (ANI)