Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BharatiyaJanata Party president Amit Shah believe in dividing the nation on the basis of caste, creed and religion, the National Conference president Farooq Abdullah alleged on Sunday, and asserted that “people have made it a point not to fall prey to the divisive agenda of the saffron party”.
Addressing a public meeting here, Abdullah said the BJP is”trying to divert the attention of people by propping up emotive issues”,according to a National Conference statement issued here.
“These people want to change the very framework of theconstitution of India, which grants equal rights and opportunities to everyone.It is the constitution of India which grants right to profess any faith. Itconfers upon our state certain constitutional safeguards. It grants our state aspecial status by means of Articles 35-A and 370. These people have alwaysshown abhorrence for our special status and special constitutional position,”Abdullah said, according to the statement.
“The other day BJP came up with its manifesto whichexplicitly reflects the hatred it boasts for the identity of our state. Theyhave forcefully vowed to do away with the provisions of Articles 370, 35 A inthat manifesto,” he said.
“Their sole agenda is to change the demography of our state,however let me tell them that they are playing with fire. To meet this purpose,they have employed various henchmen in our state; such cronies can be seenholding ‘ink-pot’ and ‘apple’ in their hands. The sole aim of BJP and itscronies is to make non-state subjects buy land and property in our state,” hesaid.
The ensuing parliament election is significant since it willdecide if India remains secular or not, Abdullah said.
“Our fight is with the divisive forces. We should utiliseour power of vote to show such forces as are inimical to our special statustheir right place. They can go to any extent to grind their axe; they will usemen, money and machinery to coerce the voters. However, the need of the hourdemands us to remain united and vigilant of their machinations. This time weare voting for our identity and the integrity of our state. Any mistake by uswill have serious repercussions for the coming generations of ours,” he said.
He said that National Conference will not allow anybody tofiddle with state’s special status.
“We have been and will continue to protect the identity,integrity and pluralistic character of our state. We would not allow anyone toabridge our rights”.