The Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to polarise the electorate in India in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Friday, and cautioned that “such a tendency will prove detrimental to the unity and integrity of the country.”
Addressing party functionaries and workers at his Srinagarresidence, Farooq said the BJP is trying to “create a rift between differentcommunities.”
“Such a trend will prove detrimental to the pluralisticethos of our country. India belongs to all and we all have to live in peace andharmony with each other,” he said, according to a National Conference statementissued here.
“Minorities in the country are feeling alienated andthreatened more than ever. It’s for the PM to address these concernsimmediately and give a sense of security to all,” he said.
On the occasion, former inspector general of police ShafkatAli Watali joined National Conference.
The party’s vice-president Omar Abdullah, who was also presentat the event, welcomed Watali into the party.
“I am sure that NC will benefit from the administrativeexperience and acumen of Watali sahib. I welcome him into the party,” Omarsaid.
Commenting on a spree of arrests in Kashmir, Farooq saidthat repressive measures “won’t prove effective to normalise situation in theValley.”
“Banning socio-religious outfits also won’t help. DuringJagmohan’s (former governor) time, JeI was banned; their schools andinstitutions were ceased. What was the then governor able to achieve by banningthe JeI? Eventually they had to hold parleys with them. It is thereforereconciliation and rapprochement only that will solve all the contentiousissues,” Farooq said, adding: “Arresting people will not resolve anything in asensitive state like J&K, where situation is always on the boil. Suchmeasures will not help in creating a peaceful atmosphere here. It is onlydialogue that holds the way out.”
Expressing concern over the “deteriorating” India-Pakistanrelation, Farooq said: “It is for India and Pakistan to maintain amiableatmosphere. It is our state which becomes the battlefield for both thecountries. People of our state have to suffer tribulation in view of increasedanimosity between the two countries.”
“It is high time both India and Pakistan find a solution tothe protracted political issue of J&K by giving autonomy to J&K oneither sides of the divide,” he said.
Reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision to refer thepolitically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case formediation, the NC leader said: “It is fine that both the parties agreed formediation under the Supreme Court. And we too accept the decision.”
Meanwhile, in Jammu, Farooq called for “isolating divisiveforces” and maintaining harmony.
“The politics of divide is against the ethos of the nationand the state, which encompass all religions, castes and regions. We arepassing through most difficult times and there is a crucial need of maintainingguard against polarising forces and defeating their machinations by upholdingour unity,” Farooq said, while welcoming advocates and political activists ofBasholi into National Conference.
Provincial president Singh Rana was present on the occasion.
Farooq, according to a National Conference spokesman, said”division of society under the guise of ultra-nationalism is all the moredangerous and those gloating over such posturing need to be isolated.”
Practicing hate and intolerance is new low in Indianpolitics that brings one segment of society face to face against another whichis detrimental for amity and brotherhood, the NC president said.
(with PTI inputs)