The Hindu : Front Page : Farooq Abdullah rules out separation from India

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Thursday, Aug 21, 2008
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Farooq Abdullah rules out separation from India

Staff Reporter

Jammu: National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday opposed independence for Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the State’s future was with India and there should be no doubt about this fact.

At a press conference here, he said: “We are proud citizens of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. This is our collective and pluralistic identity. We have a common destiny and a common future. Every citizen living in this State has an equal right…”

Dr. Abdullah said: “Let us be realistic. Independence is not possible for our State. We need to be allied to a bigger country. People who espouse the cause of independence should understand the ground realities. It is not about survival as a destroyed State, but survival as a State which is viable, where people can exist happily. Under the present circumstances, freedom is not easy to sustain.”

It was his government that decided to form the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board for better management of the shrine, he said.

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