Jammu, Jan 20: A day after former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti floated the idea of creating separate divisions for Chenab and Pir Panchal regions, former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday termed it the Dixon Plan.
Talking to reporters the NC president said that the proposal floated by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is an old plan, known as the Dixon Plan.
“It is the Dixon Plan. You might not know that. The Dixon Plan is an old proposal which envisaged the division of Jammu & Kashmir on the basis of the Chenab River, creating a Greater Kashmir on one side of the river and separating the other part,” Farooq said when asked about Mehbooba Mufti’s demand for the creation of separate divisions for the Chenab and Pir Panchal regions.
The Dixon Plan was proposed in 1950 by Sir Owen Dixon, an Australian jurist appointed by the United Nations.
The NC president said that they were against the separation of Ladakh from Jammu & Kashmir.
“What benefit did Ladakhis get from separation? Today, Ladakhis are seeking reunification with J&K and are saying that they don’t want UT status. One day, Ladakh will reunite with J&K,” he said, adding that there are many people who want to break J&K, but they will never succeed in their designs.
He said the media is suffering from a phobia of Pakistan. “We should remember Vajpayee ji and his words-that we can change friends but not neighbours,” he said.
Farooq also slammed Mehbooba Mufti for questioning Omar Abdullah’s government over unemployment.
“What did she do as Chief Minister? Her father was also Chief Minister. It is easy to point fingers at others, but she should remember that three fingers are also pointing back at her,” he said.
On being asked about Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma’s recent remarks that the National Conference and PDP are trying to create disturbances in Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah said that it is they who create disturbances. “We have taken bullets for India,” he added—(KNO)
