'Delhi cannot dismiss me'

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, JULY 9. Feeling hurt and alienated over the manner in which the Central Government has responded to the autonomy resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the J&K Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, today finally broke his silence saying, ``Delhi cannot dismiss me''. He said the ruling National Conference working committee would meet tomorrow to discuss all issues.

Dr. Abdullah, who for the first time agreed to talk to mediapersons here after Centre's decision, said the issue of his party's continuance in National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would be discussed at tomorrow's meeting. ``Let us meet tomorrow. We will let you know on Tuesday about the decisions taken,'' he told reporters adding, ``we have not thought of it as of now.'' (The working committee meeting has been delayed in view of the two current conferences here on the subject of autonomy).

A visibly demoralised Dr. Abdullah said in unequivocal terms that Delhi could not dismiss him. ``Dismissals do not take place now,'' he said. To brand him anti-national was nothing new, he said ``in the past also I was branded Khalistani and Pakistani.'' Even if he was put in jail, he would not give up the autonomy demand but would not demand azadi (freedom) as ``I am not going to misguide my people the way Hurriyat is doing and I am an Indian from the core of my heart''. ``I tell you there will be never Pakistan or `azadi' in Kashmir,'' he asserted. ``I feel hurt and alienated,'' said Dr. Abdullah.

At the same time he felt sorry for the BJP and Sangh Parivar for the rejection of the resolution. The Chief Minister said the BJP's demand for abrogation of Article 370 (which confers a special status on J&K) was not new but ``they will never succeed in it''.Dr. Abdullah believed that the door on autonomy had not been closed saying that only the Assembly resolution had been rejected, not the report. He would continue to look towards his people rather than Delhi.

Coming down heavily on the Shiv Sena chief, Mr. Bal Thackeray, he said, ``he can say anything as they are people who are against Muslims in India. Even he had even once called for throwing Muslims into the sea, has he succeeded?'' he asked.

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