NC chief says Kashmir’s unresolved status is “saving” its people, while affirming Kashmiris never denied being Indian
Srinagar, : National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah triggered a political storm on Saturday with remarks at a party convention in Baramulla. Critics read the comments as a reference to Pakistan.
Without naming any country, Abdullah said the “neighbour” was constantly behind Kashmir, and that the international view that the Kashmir question remained unresolved was what was protecting its people. He said Kashmiris had little hope from the Centre and urged them to find the courage to stand up to Delhi, warning that otherwise their identity could be erased.
At the same time, Abdullah said Kashmiris had never claimed they were not Indian. They had always affirmed their accession to the India of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad, he said. He also alleged that Hindus and Muslims were being set against each other for the sake of power.
The BJP reacted sharply. J&K unit chief Sat Sharma said Abdullah could make such statements only because of the freedom India guarantees. He demanded a public apology and said Pakistan might be a better place for him. Former Union minister Arjun Munda called the remarks condemnable, while Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Kumar Khanna accused Abdullah of exploiting Kashmiris throughout his career and said the region had benefited from integration into the national mainstream.
The National Conference had not responded to the BJP’s demand at the time of reporting.
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