Srinagar, Aug 12: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday urged people to “remain vigilant” and ensure victory of NC candidates in the upcoming assembly elections.
Addressing a workers’ convention at Malikpura Balisa in Block Pingal in Doda on the third day of his seven-day-long visit to the Chenab region, Dr Farooq emphasised the importance of unity and perseverance.
Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta, senior party leaders, Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy, Sajjadi Ahmad Kichloo, Sajjad Shaheen, Zafarullah Rather, Qazi Jalaluddin, Asrar Khan, Vijay Lochan among others were present on the occasion, the party said in a statement.
The NC Chief expressed concern over the “rising trend of spreading hatred”, particularly noting the “divisive tactics” used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He condemned the Prime Minister’s use of inflammatory language during elections, which, he said, sought to pit communities against each other.
“Such divisive tactics only serve to further divide the people,” he said. “In a time of great difficulty, where words fail to describe the challenges we face, striking unity is not an option but a necessity.”
Dr Abdullah expressed concern over the current state of affairs, saying, “People are being divided along religious, regional, and linguistic lines. The alarming trend of spreading hatred has escalated to the point where even the Prime Minister is participating in this divisive behaviour. Unlike past leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Manmohan Singh, the current Prime Minister has resorted to using inflammatory language against Muslims during elections, which is both shameful and concerning.”
He added, “The Prime Minister’s remarks about giving Hindu possessions to Muslims if his party does not win, and suggesting that Hindu women’s jewellery should be given to Muslims, are not only divisive but also dangerous. This divisive behaviour is a reflection of the evil times we are living in, where people are being torn apart instead of bringing them together.”
Criticising the delimitation process, which he believed was carried out on a divisive basis, Dr Faqooq said, “People need to remain vigilant and reject divisive elements.” He stressed the importance of unity in the face of adversity, saying despair is not an option.
He called for a united front against “divisive forces”, emphasising that “mutual unity is the key to overcoming the challenges of the present time”. “Unity is our strength, and it is imperative to stand together against those who seek to divide us,” he added.
