secular co-existenceJammu, Jan 14 (PTI) Former Jammu and Kashmir chiefminister Omar Abdullah today warned people against a divisivenarrative and asserted that the future would be defined byefforts of the present generation to protect secular co-existence.
In his message read out at a day-long seminar 'Bridgingthe Divide' organised here by the Epilogue magazine, Abdullahexpressed concern over the "increasingly acrid and divisivenarrative" that stands to question the fundamental rights ofequality and the dignity of human life irrespective of caste,creed, region or religion, guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Leader of the Opposition in J&K said that seriouschallenges were confronting not only the state but the nationat large.
The future would be defined by the "sincere efforts andhonest intentions" of the present generation to protectinstitutions, secular co-existence and societal integrity, theNational Conference leader said in his message.
He also hailed the diversity of cultures, languages andethnicity of J&K.
However, Abdullah also underlined the challenges to thephilosophy of tolerance, amity and peace among communities.
The former chief minister lauded the grit of the peopleof J&K and also highlighted the contributions of hisgrandfather Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah in nurturing the state.
Abdullah allged that there had been a "prolongedpolitical vacuum" in J&K and there was growing disenchantmentamong the youth under the present dispensation.
"A singular focus on operational mechanisms and variousother contemporary political developments have resulted inadding to the disenchantment among the youth," he said.
Referring to the resurgence of militancy and a drasticincrease in violence and turmoil, the former chief ministerreiterated the need for saving the new generation from theconsequences of renewed turmoil and instability.
He called for like-minded voices to come together tosafeguard the state's integrity, peace and stability by"foiling the designs of those who were trying to divide peopleacross regional and religious lines for vested politicalinterests".
He also asked those at the helm of affairs to realise theconsequences of divisive politics. PTI SKL ASKASK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.