Islam respects all religions: Farooq on PM’s mangalsutra remarks

Srinagar, Apr 23: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks about the ‘mangalsutra’, saying Islam doesn’t condone disrespect towards other religions and that a Muslim would never snatch a Hindu woman’s mangalsutra.
The mangalsutra is a sacred symbol of marriage in Hindu culture, particularly prevalent in India. It is a necklace worn by Hindu women which symbolises the marital bond between husband and wife, signifying their union, love, and commitment to each other.
Expressing disappointment, Abdullah said Islam advocates respect for all faiths and asserted that anyone who disrespects another religion does not understand Islam.
“Islam promotes love and respect for all, including Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims,” Dr Farooq said while talking to reporters here.
Regarding the BJP’s proposal for ‘One Nation, One Election’, he said such a system wouldn’t be feasible due to the diverse nature of India’s states. He criticised the BJP’s alleged plan to amend the Constitution to consolidate power.
The NC chief also questioned the removal of the Chief Justice of India from the Election Commission’s selection committee and raised concerns about the imbalance in the committee’s composition.
Speaking about the uncertainty surrounding the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah expressed uncertainty about their timing, suggesting that the Supreme Court’s directives might be ignored by those in power.
He urged political leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sajad Lone, and Altaf Bukhari, to consider the BJP’s treatment of Muslims before aligning with the party.
“I am cautioning you against being deceived by the BJP’s current stance towards Muslims and their future intentions,” he added.