JAMMU, August 3, 2025 : National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said the Congress has convened a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders in New Delhi on August 7 to discuss preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, likely to be held in October–November.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah reiterated his party’s commitment to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. “We have faith in the one who is the master of all. We will get our rights,” he said.
On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent remark about having “atom bomb”-level evidence to prove vote tampering by the Election Commission in favour of the BJP, Abdullah said, “Rahul Gandhi has claimed they have made full arrangements to win Bihar. I will be meeting him at the August 7 meeting to learn more.”
Abdullah was in Jammu to offer condolences to National Conference provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta on the death of his wife, and to a local family over a recent bereavement.
Asked why NC isn’t joining the Congress-led chain hunger strike from August 9 to 21 demanding statehood restoration, Abdullah responded, “We are already fighting for it. Omar Abdullah has raised the issue with the Prime Minister whenever they met.”
Targeting the Centre over delays in holding elections, he said, “They couldn’t fill four Rajya Sabha and two Assembly seats – Nagrota and Budgam – since the formation of the J&K government. What more can we expect?”
Reacting to BJP’s development claims post-Article 370 abrogation, Abdullah said, “I don’t want to comment. They keep repeating it. Look at the economy—industries are leaving, jobs are vanishing. We’re heading towards more unemployment.”
He drew a parallel with international trends, referencing former US President Donald Trump. “Trump claimed he brought peace. Now they’ve imposed tariffs on us. Bangladesh and Cambodia will benefit while we suffer.”
On former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur’s claim about pressure to name PM Modi in the Malegaon blast case, Abdullah declined comment, saying, “Don’t ask such questions. We’re already facing enough troubles.”
His remark came days after all accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, were acquitted due to lack of evidence by a special court in Mumbai.
