The Hindu : Farooq blasts `move' for Governor's rule in J&K

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 22, 2002

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Farooq blasts `move' for Governor's rule in J&K

By Shujaat Bukhari

Farooq Abdullah

SRINAGAR JULY 21. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, today came down heavily on the Central Government and questioned the calls for imposition of Governor's rule in the State in order to have "free, fair and transparent elections''. He threatened to fight against any such move like a "Tiger's son" and said that they should not play with the future of the State. Or else, they should be ready to face the "consequences".

``Are we their (New Delhi's) slaves that we accept everything from them? Do not threaten us. I will fight them like hell'' he told presspersons after the prize distribution function at a golf tournament here.

Taking strong exception to reports about the possibility of imposition of Governor's rule ahead of elections in the State, Dr. Abdullah said: "I am Tiger's (the late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was also known as the Lion of Kashmir) son and they should know it''. Being a member of the ruling National Democratic Alliance, he was not aware of such plans but "if they want to play with the future of the State, they should also be ready for the consequences. I think they should not play with the Constitution. Will you dismiss all the Chief Ministers of the country", he asked.

Continuing Dr. Abdullah said: " why do they (New Delhi) think that J and K is their baby? Why should they have Governor's rule here? What kind of transparency do they want? Why is there no Governor's rule in Gujarat? Are we crooks? We fought elections under Governor's rule in 1996", he pointed out. Dr. Abdullah said that elections would be held in time. The House would be dissolved before the elections. To a question, he said his party did not agree to his desire to quit as Chief Minister and wanted to fight elections under his leadership.

The Chief Minister took strong exception to a statement made by some Congress leaders in Anantnag on Saturday that the Governor, G.C. Saxena, was partial. "I feel deeply hurt as Mr. Saxena was the chief of RAW when their leader Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister and he rang me up in London'' he said. The Congress had never been fair and who were they to talk about partiality, he asked.

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