Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, May 12 

National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah warned on Tuesday that India could face a severe fuel and economic crisis if tensions in West Asia, particularly between Iran and the United States, continue to escalate.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said a prolonged conflict could trigger shortages of fuel and gas and push the country towards economic instability.

“A crisis is coming upon us – fuel crisis, gas crisis. We are heading towards destruction,” Abdullah said.

The former chief minister said the country’s economy was already under strain and cautioned that an extended conflict in the region could worsen the situation significantly.

“Yes, the economy is definitely finished. If this Iran-U.S. conflict does not end soon, God knows what is in fate for us,” he said.

Abdullah said authorities were considering shifting schools to online mode as part of fuel conservation efforts but warned that such measures could disadvantage students without access to digital infrastructure.

“Everyone does not have the online facility. We will have to think and do something about it because education is very important,” he said.

His remarks came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently urged citizens to conserve fuel and reduce imports amid rising global energy prices and pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves.

Addressing a separate meeting of party leaders at the NC’s Nawa-e-Subh headquarters in Srinagar, Abdullah said the ongoing conflict could push not only West Asia but also the global economy into crisis.

He warned that disruptions in petroleum supplies could fuel inflation, unemployment and economic instability worldwide, and cautioned about the possibility of a collapse of the global economic system if the situation deteriorated further.

Abdullah described the prime minister’s appeal for work-from-home arrangements as a “realistic and timely measure” under prevailing circumstances.

However, he reiterated concerns about online education, saying students from poor and middle-class families without access to internet services, mobile phones or laptops could be disproportionately affected.

On local political issues, Abdullah criticised opposition parties over their demand for a ban on alcohol in J&K, accusing them of remaining silent when liquor shops were opened earlier.

“We know who is pulling their strings,” he said, without naming any party.

He said that the government would consider banning alcohol if the federal government compensated Jammu and Kashmir for the resulting revenue losses.

Abdullah also expressed concern over rising drug addiction in the region and said his party had constituted a committee named “WADA” to study the issue in consultation with experts, doctors, legal professionals and social workers.

He said the NC government planned to introduce a stringent anti-drug bill during the upcoming Assembly session.

Senior party leaders, including Ali Muhammad Sagar, Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan and Shaukat Ahmad Mir, also attended the meeting and briefed Abdullah on organisational activities and outreach programmes.