Rediff On The NeT: Transcript of the Farooq Abdullah Chat


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The Farooq Abdullah Chat

Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the one and only Dr Farooq Abdullah. Passionate. Sincere. And perhaps the most visible reason why Kashmir will remain a part of India.

Zaina Ali Khan (Sat Oct 26 19:52:19 1996 IST):

Hey, Rediff is anyone there?

Zaina Ali Khan (Sat Oct 26 19:53:06 1996 IST):

Hey, Rediff is anyone there?

Rajiv Shorey (Sat Oct 26 19:53:42 1996 IST):

Mr Abdullah, What do you plan to do to integrate the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of their motherland - India. Will you ask the centre to have a special scheme to induct more J & K Youth in various central government services on a special category basis ?

Nikhil Lakshman (Sat Oct 26 19:54:42 1996 IST):

Dr Abdullah is held up in a meeting. He will be with us any moment now. He flew down earlier in the day, just for this Chat. So please stay logged in . The conversation with Dr Abdullah promises to be very interesting.

Nikhil Lakshman (Sat Oct 26 19:55:16 1996 IST):

Please stay logged in. Dr Abdullah will be with us any moment now.

Rajiv Shorey (Sat Oct 26 19:57:29 1996 IST):

Mr Abdullah, do you plan to have a special drive to boost tourism into J & K and get more Indian and foreign tourists ? Do you have a plan to provide means of employment/business to the youth who surrender arms ?

Nikhil Lakshman (Sat Oct 26 20:01:17 1996 IST):

Since we are all sitting around just Chatting, I'd just like to ask you whether 2000 hours is the right time to have a Chat.

panun mog! (Sat Oct 26 20:02:09 1996 IST):

Good evening everybody, seems to be present today a very distinguished audience...

monika (Sat Oct 26 20:02:53 1996 IST):

hello

Rajiv Shorey (Sat Oct 26 20:03:01 1996 IST):

( I am trying to get as many questions as I can, before Mr Abdullah comes ) Mr Abdullah, How do you plan to politically counter the Hurriyat and various extremists outfits ? Thank You very much for making yourself available My sincere regards. Rajiv

Ashok Bamzai (Sat Oct 26 20:03:32 1996 IST):

2000 hours IST is okay for us guys in the States. I am not sure about the folks back home though.

panun mog! (Sat Oct 26 20:04:19 1996 IST):

Nikhil:2000hrs is great for us in India. I seem to have no trouble in having a guest/specialist co-chatter with me at this time of the evening, ofcourse the fact that chatshows are not yet 'dry' helps. believe me, for your Indian audience, 2000hrs sounds great...

Rajiv Shorey (Sat Oct 26 20:05:29 1996 IST):

Mr Lakshman, It's right time for me at Dallas U.S.A - It's about 9.30 in the morning here.

monika (Sat Oct 26 20:06:00 1996 IST):

While we're waiting for Dr.Abdulllah, can someone who knows give me short summary on why the people of Kashmir were disenchanted with Delhi and India in general, prior to all that has happened in the last ten years?

panun mog! (Sat Oct 26 20:06:00 1996 IST):

Shorey Sahib:Advance questions may get scrolled off the page so please take care...Nikhil, shud we log off and come back in your opinion or is it a question of minutes?

Nikhil Lakshman (Sat Oct 26 20:06:01 1996 IST):

But Mr Mog, how many people log in from their homes in India? What is your forecast for the domestic audience? Do you think the Internet will catch up in India in the next six months in a big way?

Iftikhar Gilani (Sat Oct 26 20:06:31 1996 IST):

Dear Farooq sb. As autonomy was your main election plank during the election campaign. What would be the quantum of autonomy you will be negotiating with the centre? How it will be different from the federal structure being demanded by oter states? Do you think that with the BJP emerging a powerful and a strong party at the centre who are demending the abbrogation of Article 370 in its present form, you will be able to carry your demand of autonomy? Also there have been several accords and agreements between previous Indian governments and the Kashmiri leaders but all those accords never saw light of the day. At that time kashmir had a strong leadership and stable atmosphere. India too had a stable leaddership which was decesive. Do you think that United Front with such unstable support will provide the autonomy to the state?

I (Sat Oct 26 20:06:32 1996 IST):

Great Time Nikhil .....suits me just fine.

monika (Sat Oct 26 20:07:21 1996 IST):

Mr. Lakshman, weekends work well, Mondays 20:00 isn't a good time at all

panun mog! (Sat Oct 26 20:07:58 1996 IST):

Monika:people of anywhere are disenchanted with their rulers, democraticaly elected or otherwise!Why pick on Kashmir!Look at us media types in Delhi, we are already disenchanted with Kanshi Ram and Mayawati...

Rajiv Shorey (Sat Oct 26 20:08:30 1996 IST):

I am in this forum the first time, How do I refresh my screen, without having to ask a question ?

supratic Gupta (Sat Oct 26 20:09:13 1996 IST):

DR. Abdullah. I think you have a difficult task ahead. I personally feel doing justice should be you prime target. How do you think you can balance the two sides? Do you know of various proposal that are possible? a) Stay with India b) Stay with India c) Swis model independence?

Nikhil Lakshman (Sat Oct 26 20:09:21 1996 IST):

Suparn Verma, my colleague who flew to Delhi this morning for this Chat and is at this moment at Dr Abdullah's office, just told me on the phone that Dr Abdullah was expected anytime. "Between 8 and 8.30" is what he has been told. Organising this Chat has involved considerably more effort than our other guest Chats. All the effort will be worthwhile if Dr Abdullah provides us some lively insights. Please stay logged in.

I (Sat Oct 26 20:10:06 1996 IST):

Rajiv Shorey: I don't think asking your questions so early is a good idea cause they will get lost as new messages keep on coming in. Relax and participate in the discussion dude.:-)

supratic Gupta (Sat Oct 26 20:10:37 1996 IST):

OH! I got it all wrong. a) Stay with India b) Join Pakistan c) Devide d) Swis model(have you heard of this model)?

Nikhil Lakshman (Sat Oct 26 20:10:50 1996 IST):

Mrf Shorey, Welcome to the Rediff Chat. It's great to have you with us today. Please keep hitting the Say It/Listen button for the conversation to be refreshed.

monika (Sat Oct 26 20:10:56 1996 IST):

panun mog, but not to the point that people will support insurgency against the national govt. I just wanted to get a brief synopses of Kashmir's history, because I wasn't too familiar with it.

Nikhil Lakshman (Sat Oct 26 20:11:22 1996 IST):

Sorry, that should have read Mr Shorey...

Iftikhar Gilani (Sat Oct 26 20:11:32 1996 IST):

panun mog! (Sat Oct 26 20:11:56 1996 IST):

Nikhil Boss: (a) MOG is/was a scifi creature of total change, sex/shape/everything.As of now you are talking to a female MOG. Please keep it just MOG!(b)Here in Delhi,we are unable to keep up with the number of people who want help on starting up the Net at home and at office, and we are just one of many. I think you may find more and more ofice/home or SOHO type viewers interacting. Time zones are a problem you will always face. We have 4 people in the room here (+ one more MOG expected) only for this chat, all will have computers linked to phones at home...

I (Sat Oct 26 20:12:25 1996 IST):

Rajiv: Click o the Say it/Listen button for reloading the page, as well as sending your queries/comments. So where are ya from?

monika (Sat Oct 26 20:13:31 1996 IST):

BTw Mr Lakshman, while we're waiting for our esteemed guest, could someone who's logged in let me know what's going in uttar pradesh currently?

monika (Sat Oct 26 20:16:07 1996 IST):

Is anyone logged on who would support separation of Kashmir, could I get your reasons why? Thanx

Rajiv Shorey (Sat Oct 26 20:16:55 1996 IST):

Thanks for the tip on reloading. I am from Dallas Texas ( Coming from Punjab, India ) . I have been in States for about 7 years now.

panun mog! (Sat Oct 26 20:17:02 1996 IST):

Also btw Mr Lakshman, we had this little debate on what is hostile questions and what is abusive. Fine line, shades of grey, do you think REDIFF could set the ground rules for both chat people as well as moderators?don't you think prem panicker was going past his brief on the Dungarpur walkover/concede?

I (Sat Oct 26 20:17:25 1996 IST):

Monika: Why should we support separation of Kashmir? Do you?

monika (Sat Oct 26 20:18:51 1996 IST):

I: I don't, but I'm not sure who would be logged in, I don't only India supporters have access to this chat.

panun mog! (Sat Oct 26 20:18:58 1996 IST):

Is Suparn in Delhi?You have a number for us?

I (Sat Oct 26 20:19:04 1996 IST):

Rajiv: How is Dallas? Is Confetti still there?

monika (Sat Oct 26 20:19:22 1996 IST):

^ think is missing

supratic Gupta (Sat Oct 26 20:20:26 1996 IST):

I think we are paying too high a price for Kashmir to stay together. If that is what they want, what is wrong? Get Jammu and Ladhak and let Kashmir go its way. But the trouble is they want it in a peace. Some Bhitan type independence might be a good idea where Hindus are not made second grade citizen might be a good idea.

Photograph: Atul Chowdhury

Continued