Farooq Abdullah challenges opposition silence on Article 370, calls for rethink on strategy

Farooq Abdullah

In a pointed critique of opposition strategies, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah responded to criticism of his party’s manifesto and recent statements by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge regarding Article 370.

Speaking firmly, Abdullah as per media stressed the NC’s commitment to its promises, saying, “What we have said is clear and we are implementing it. We stand by our statement. If the opposition does not say anything, how will they survive?”

Abdullah’s remarks come amidst growing questions about the opposition’s clarity on key issues, including Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir before its abrogation in 2019. Mallikarjun Kharge had earlier raised concerns about the opposition’s collective silence on the matter, sparking debates about the need for a unified stance.

Farooq Abdullah reiterated his party’s steadfastness, outlining that the National Conference has never wavered in its commitments. “We do not succumb to pressure,” he said, assuring the people of Jammu and Kashmir that his party would continue to fight for the restoration of their rights and constitutional protections.

According to the NC patriarch, it is a crucial challenge for the Congress and opposition parties, whose perceived silence on sensitive issues is being interpreted as a sign of weakness. “I am urging opposition leaders to rethink their strategies and present a unified front on matters of national and regional significance,” Abdullah said