Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

Why no G20 meet in Jammu, asks Farooq

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hidustanti­mes.com

JAMMU : National Conference president and Lok Sabha member Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday rued Jammu being given a miss from the itinerary of G20 summit meetings and expressed surprise over the alleged silence from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders about the same.

Fielding media queries at the party headquarte­rs here on the sidelines of May Day function, Farooq questioned why Jammu has been ignored from G20 meetings.

“G20 summit is a routine affair. This time it’s happening in India and next time it will be held in some other country. The tragedy is that they have avoided Jammu in G20 plans. They are holding it in Leh, in Kashmir but not in Jammu. I am surprised that not a single leader of BJP is saying anything on this,” Adullah said.

“Those who yelled Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Dogra, Dogra, Dogra… none of them are speaking a word about it. Isn’t Jammu important or Jammu is taken for granted. I think the G20 meet should be held here,” he added. To another query on migrant workers vis-à-vis government plans to provide them accommodat­ion post the revocation of Article 370, he said, “Jammu is going to lose its identity, Dogra identity will be lost. I see it as an attempt to bring an end to Dogra culture, Dogri language and Dogra region.”

“Outsiders will settle here and take away our jobs and everything. I feel sad and regret that no BJP leader is speaking against it,” he said, adding, “If time comes, NC will do whatever is required.” On assembly polls, the NC veteran said that he doesn’t bother anymore for the assembly elections.

 ?? ?? Farooq Abdullah .
Farooq Abdullah .

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