Trifurcation demand akin to Jinnah's theory, says Farooq

JAMMU, AUG. 18. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, today said the demand for trifurcation of the State amounted to nurturing Mohammad Ali Jinnah's two-nation theory that led to the partition of the country.

Addressing a one-day convention of the National Conference (Jammu District), the Chief Minister said the sub- continent was facing the consequences of the ``ill-conceived Partition even now''.

Dr. Abdullah said the State had to flourish as a single entity and nobody should nurture the impression that one region will dominate another. The funds to all the regions were being allotted equitably and the Government was committed to providing equal opportunities of development to regions and sub- regions, he added.

Vested interests had been raising the bogey of regional discrimination for quite a long time to further their interests. At times they agitate against the so-called regional imbalance in the select lists of professional colleges or services and at times they incite people on sacrilege to religions, he regretted and said that any attempt to divide the people on regional basis would weaken the country.

Asking the partymen to get ready for elections due after October next year, the Chief Minister exuded confidence about his party coming to power in the next elections and said that he would have a small council of Ministers. He said the recent expansion in his Ministry was necessary to give representation to Poonch and Rajouri districts and in view of ailing health of Mr. Bashir Ahmed Kitchloo.

On the India-Pakistan relations, Dr. Abdullah said the positive aspect of the Agra summit was that Islamabad refrained from raising the issue in Geneva and the SAARC conference was held in a cordial atmosphere.

He however regretted Pakistan's continued support to the militancy in the State. The Chief Minister said Pakistan could never succeed in its nefarious designs. Islamabad and its sympathisers in the valley such as Syed Ali Shah Geelani knew this fact. But, they wanted to keep the pot boiling for their political existence.

About the performance of his Government in the past five years, Dr. Abdullah said a sense of accountability had been brought in every sphere and sincere efforts made to steer the State out of woods. He said the work on the shrine of Alamdar-e- Kashmir at Chrar-e-Sharief would be completed next month.

- UNI

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