Hold talks with Pakistan or lose Kashmir: Farooq Abdullah

SRINAGAR (92 News) – National Conference chief and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Dr Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting the state by-elections from Srinagar, said that the violence and loss of lives during the by-polls in the state are a tragedy and a failure of the government of the day.

In an interview with an Indian media, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the state could not provide security to the people, and further, it is the present dispensation which the people reject.

“Wake up, wake up. The situation is quite bad, and don't tell me Pakistan is not a party to this problem. Whether you like it or not, you have to talk to Pakistan. If you want to beat the threat of the terrorists, then you better start talking now,” he said.

The situation remains tense in the Kashmir valley a day after violence and a historic low voter turnout, at 7 percent, marred by-polls in Srinagar.

The Indian Election Commission has postponed the by-polls in Anantnag Parliamentary constituency to May 25, 2016.

The decision came after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's brother Tasaduq Hussain Mufti, who is contesting a Parliamentary by-poll in Anantnag, appealed to the Election Commission to postpone his election.

On Sunday, 8 civilians were killed and school set on fire in Shopian, in incidences of poll violence in Kashmir.