National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah expressed his approval of the Supreme Court's decision to invalidate the early release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case, emphasizing that he welcomed the court's verdict on this grave matter. Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah, conveyed his hope that the Gujarat government would take decisive action to prosecute and penalize those responsible for the heinous crime.
Reflecting on the past when the released convicts were received with sweets and garlands, Abdullah remarked, "It is common knowledge who celebrated the release of rapists with lads." The Supreme Court, in its ruling on Monday, not only overturned the Gujarat government's premature release order for 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case but also strongly rebuked one particular convict for "playing fraud" on the court. Additionally, the court criticized the State of Gujarat for aligning itself with the convicts.
During a press conference earlier in the day, Abdullah also shared his thoughts on the upcoming consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. He disclosed that he had not received an invitation to the inauguration and took a dig at the BJP, asserting, "While the BJP will chant 'Jai Siya Ram' during elections, claiming credit for the temple, it is important to recognize that the temple's construction is attributed to divine will."
Addressing the historical context of Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India, Abdullah credited his father, Sheikh Abdullah, for the region's union with India. He postulated that without Sheikh Abdullah's influential role, Jammu and Kashmir might not have become a part of the Indian Union.
Reflecting on his tenure as Chief Minister during the challenging period of 1996, Abdullah recounted how he assumed leadership when no other political party was willing to contest elections. Looking forward, he pledged that if his party were to regain power, they would prioritize ensuring access to drinking water for every household and focus on generating employment opportunities for the local youth.
Responding to allegations of collusion with terrorists, Abdullah vehemently refuted such claims, emphasizing that both his party and he personally have been victims of terrorism. He underscored, "Accusations of collaboration with terrorists have been made against us. However, the BJP fails to mention that terrorists have targeted and assassinated hundreds of our party workers. They also don't acknowledge that there was an attempt on my life. We are staunch Indians and will remain as such. Our loyalty lies with India, and we have not aligned ourselves with Pakistan."
