National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday triggered a political controversy by saying that Pakistan’s continued efforts to raise the Kashmir issue at international forums were helping protect the interests and identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The BJP strongly condemned his remarks, describing them as “seditious and anti-national” and demanding legal action against the former chief minister.
Addressing a party convention at Dak Bungalow in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district in the presence of senior party leaders and seven legislators from north Kashmir, Abdullah expressed little hope that the Centre would deliver justice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “What hope will you have from them (Delhi)? Will you expect that they will do justice for you?” he asked, urging people to remain courageous and stand up for their rights. Abdullah warned that the region’s identity could be at risk if people failed to stand firm. Everywhere they say that the decision regarding Kashmir has not been made. That is what is saving us.
Because there is noise in the world, and our neighbour is constantly behind this, “They are silent today.
Referring to Pakistan without naming it directly at the outset, he said the neighbouring country’s continued international advocacy of the Kashmir issue was one reason the situation had not taken a different turn. Otherwise, their intentions are not good,” Abdullah said. Reiterating his party’s position on Jammu and Kashmir’s relationship with India, Abdullah said the people of the Union Territory had never denied their Indian identity. “We never said that we are not Indians. Time and time again, we affirmed that we acceded to India — to the India of Mahatma Gandhi, the India of Jawaharlal Nehru, the India of (Maulana Abul Kalam) Azad,” he said. “We never imagined that an era would come where Muslims and Hindus would be pitted against each other, purely for power — just for this chair,” he said, adding that he believed the situation would eventually change.
