Srinagar, Jan 22: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said on Wednesday that the Katra-Sangaldan train service is likely to be delayed by two months and will commence operations in April to align with the tourism season.
Speaking to reporters at a party event, Abdullah shared his expectations for the train to begin service by April, emphasizing its significance for connectivity and tourism.
“I heard the train (to Kashmir) will face a two-month delay due to some incomplete works,” he said. “Those works are being addressed, and the service will start with the onset of the tourism season.” Abdullah had earlier planned to travel to Srinagar onboard the train on January 25.
The Railway Ministry, in December last year, declared the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, initiated in 1997 to connect Kashmir with the rest of India. Recent trial runs and inspections, including the Commissioner of Railway Safety’s assessment, had raised hopes for an earlier launch of the service.
Responding to questions about the government’s performance, Abdullah dismissed criticism from rival parties. He urged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to introspect before accusing the NC of shifting its stance from Article 370 to statehood restoration.
“Tell them (PDP) they are responsible for the revocation of Article 370,” Abdullah asserted. “We repeatedly urged Mufti Mohammad Sayeed not to align with the BJP for government formation, but he ignored our advice.”
Asked about the timeline for restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah quipped, “When it is acceptable to the Almighty.”
Farooq Abdullah did not hold back in criticizing the BJP for its governance in Jammu and Kashmir over the past decade, particularly on the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, who marked 35 years in exile on January 19.
“The BJP ruled Jammu and Kashmir for 10 years. How many migrant families have they rehabilitated in this period?” he asked. He also questioned the BJP’s failure to deliver on its promise of 50,000 jobs for unemployed youth, adding, “Nobody questions the BJP about their promises, but they expect the NC, which has been in power for just three months, to deliver everything immediately.”
Abdullah also criticized sections of the media for allegedly promoting divisive narratives, urging journalists to focus on spreading harmony. “If we continue to spread hatred, we cannot save the country. The media needs self-introspection before questioning opposition leaders,” he said.
When asked about the involvement of a Bangladeshi national in the recent attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan in Mumbai, Abdullah condemned the incident while cautioning against stereotyping entire communities or nations.
“If someone attacked him, you cannot blame an entire nation for one person’s actions. Similar things have happened in Canada and the U.S., where blame was unfairly directed at India,” he said. Abdullah also called for the revival of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), envisioning a united region working collaboratively for development.(KINS)