Reacting to the spike in attacks on minorities across India, former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Thursday alleged that attempted were being made to change the secular fabric of India. “The communal tension is growing across country. Muslims are being killed. There are some persons who act like mad dogs and think they are all powerful. This is not theIndia we believe in,” Abdullah told a gathering at the residence of his party member and former law minister Mir Saifullah here. Abdullah visited Saifullah’s family to condole the death of his brother Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir who passed away last Saturday.
Abdullah said there was need for people to unite and strengthen the country. He said Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Christians have equal right to live in India and “they will have to work together for the country.”
“There are attempts being made to change secular character of India. We should be cautious and unite to defeat such forces,” said Abdullah who was accompanied by party’s vice-president and his son Omar Abdullah.
The National Conference leader expressed concern over deteriorating situation in the state saying there were forces working against peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
“These forces don’t want that there should be peace and friendship between India and Pakistan. When the two countries are at loggerheads the people in J&K are the most affected. We are going through a tough phase and we are becoming the victims of the hostilities,” said Abdullah, the MP from Srinagar.
Stating that slain journalist and editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir Shujaat Bukhari was like his brother, Abdullah claimed that he (Bukhari) tried his best to create friendship between India and Pakistan.
“Prior to his killing, he went to Pakistan to find a way to save us from miseries,” Abdullah said.
Other party leaders who were accompanying senior Abdullah included Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Nasir Aslam Wani, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, Sardar Shammi Singh Oberoi, Tanvir Sadiq, and Nasir Ahmed Khan.