Farooq Abdullah’s Misleading Statement

The statement of former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) chief Dr Farooq Abdullah that Kashmiris are safe and secure because Pakistan raises their voice at international fora — otherwise they would have been finished — has stirred a hornet's nest, with various organisations and political leaders condemning the statement in the strongest terms.

The statement is provocative and against the national interest. It is a repetition of the NC's old policy, the same party whose leadership was dethroned in 1953 for its anti-national conspiracy, with its leaders put behind bars.

It appears the NC, which is in power at present, wants to create a similar situation once again, provoking Kashmiris to wage a movement against the nation — something that cannot be tolerated. Dr Farooq Abdullah must know that the entire nation stands united on the issue of protecting India's sovereignty and integrity, and the designs of those trying to threaten it will be frustrated.

Had the NC behaved as a responsible political party since 1947, Jammu and Kashmir would not have faced turmoil for the last 40 years, thousands of people would not have lost their lives, and lakhs would not have been forced to leave Kashmir.

At a time when the situation is limping back to normalcy, with terror activities on the decline and the era of stone-pelting and curfews over, the NC leader wants to set Kashmir on fire again with his venomous statement.