SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah sparked a controversy on Saturday by saying Pakistan was “protecting us” and alleging that the Centre’s intentions towards Jammu and Kashmir were not good.
The remarks drew a sharp response from the BJP, which termed them “seditious and anti-national” and demanded legal action against the former chief minister.
“What can you expect from them (Delh)i? Do you expect them to deliver justice for you? Have the courage to fight them, or you will be wiped out, and your identity will disappear” Abdullah said while addressing party workers in north Kashmir’s Baramulla today.
Without naming Pakistan, NC president said, “They (Delhi) are silent today because of the pressure from the world. Our neighbour is constantly after them. He goes everywhere saying that the Kashmir issue has not been resolved”.
“He is protecting us; otherwise, their intentions are not good,” added Abdullah.
He asserted that J&K people had never denied their Indian identity and had repeatedly affirmed their accession to India.
"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.
Taking a dig at the Centre, Abdullah alleged that its policies had kept the people of J&K dependent rather than enabling them to become self-reliant.
People, he said, could safeguard their dignity, honour and rights only by standing on their own feet, stressing the need for unity and adherence to the path shown by Almighty Allah.
Abdullah said people of J&K had endured hardships and oppression under different historical periods, including Afghan, Sikh, Mughal and Dogra rule, and had eventually emerged from those difficult times.
“The hardships of the present era, too, would not last forever," he said.
The NC president further said doctors, who come from outside J&K to pursue MBBS, MD, or MS courses here, as well as students who study medicine here, are required to serve for two years in villages, hospitals, and other areas across in other state of the country the region and if they don’t do it, they must pay Rs 40 lakh to the administration.”
“This is a region where a file has been pending with the Lieutenant Governor for a year. The LG claims that powers are rested with the elected government,” he said.
Abdullah said PM Modi and Home Minister have made commitments to people of J&K regarding delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood thereafter. “However, despite the passage of two years, statehood had not been restored.”
Expressing concern over treatment meted out to minorities in different parts of the country, he alleged that homes, shops and mosques of minority communities, particularly Muslims, were being targeted in several areas, especially in BJP ruled states.
The J&K BJP has taken strong exception to Abdullah's statement praising Pakistan.
“It was deeply unfortunate that a senior political leader was questioning India’s intentions towards people of J&K while projecting Pakistan as a force working in their interest,” J&K BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur said.
He said Abdullah’s pro-Pakistan statement is “seditious and anti-national”, and he should be booked for making such remarks.
“A leader who has taken an oath under the Indian Constitution cannot be allowed to question the country’s intentions towards its own people while giving political legitimacy to Pakistan’s narrative,” Thakur said adding, “If Abdullah has so much love for Pakistan, he should go to Pakistan”.
