Baramulla, Oct 24: National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday urged party workers to remain loyal to the organisation regardless of political circumstances, asserting that commitment to the party should be guided by honesty, principles and public service rather than the pursuit of power.
Addressing a gathering in Baramulla, Abdullah said workers who had made sacrifices for the party must stand by it with sincerity, even when it was not in government.
“If you have really given your blood for this Jamaat, then walk with it with honesty. Do not walk with dishonesty,” he said.
Questioning the tendency of some workers to associate with a political party only while it holds power, the NC president asked whether their commitment would endure if the government changed.
“Today there is a government, and you are with us. If you want to remain with this Jamaat, will you remain only as long as this government is there?” he asked.
Abdullah said the real strength of the National Conference lay in the dedication and integrity of its workers, adding that political commitment should not be dictated by positions, personal gains or changing circumstances.
He called upon party members to remain courageous and steadfast in their beliefs, urging them to prioritise the interests of the people over individual ambitions.
Emphasising that his political concerns went beyond holding public office, Abdullah said his primary objective was to address the economic hardships faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I am not asking you to make me Chief Minister. I am not asking you to make me President. I am asking you to remove our poverty,” he said.
The NC president also raised concerns over electricity shortages in Jammu and Kashmir despite the region’s power-generation capacity. Questioning the continued deprivation of consumers, he said, “Electricity is being produced, yet we are deprived of electricity.”
Referring to his tenure as Chief Minister, Abdullah recalled efforts to develop major hydropower projects and discussions with the Centre regarding their eventual transfer to Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will take the projects back,” he asserted, reiterating the issue of the region’s rights over its power resources.
Reflecting on Jammu and Kashmir’s political relationship with India, Abdullah invoked the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, saying the understanding had been rooted in the ideals of peace and communal harmony.
“We made peace with Gandhi’s India. We made peace with Nehru’s India. We never expected that a time would come when Hindus and Muslims would be made to fight each other,” he said.
Abdullah urged people to speak openly and without fear, stressing that political workers must remain guided by their convictions and the welfare of the public.
He said the focus of political leadership should be on addressing people’s problems, including poverty and electricity shortages, rather than on securing positions of authority.
