August 9 a black day in J&K history, says Farooq Abdullah

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National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday termed August 9, 1953 a black day in Jammu and Kashmir's history, recalling the arrest of then prime minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He called on the Union government to restore statehood as a first step toward a reset in Centre-J&K relations based on mutual trust, democratic principles and constitutional guarantees. Abdullah said the 1953 political coup shattered people's faith in constitutional assurances and created a trust deficit that remains unhealed. He demanded that restoration of statehood begin a wider process of rights restoration, justice, dignity and mutual respect for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.