Srinagar, 08-09-2024: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah recently accused the BJP of attempting to manipulate the Hindu voters of Jammu and Kashmir by inciting fear as part of their election strategy. Speaking on Sunday at the Naseembagh mausoleum, where he paid tribute to National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on his 42nd death anniversary, Abdullah expressed concerns over the BJP’s election campaign in Jammu. He claimed that the party is trying to “intimidate” Hindu voters with false narratives.
Abdullah further accused the BJP of misleading the people by suggesting that terrorism would rise again if the NC-Congress alliance were to come to power in the region. “They want to threaten the Hindu community, assuming they will secure votes through intimidation. But the times have changed, and so have the Hindus,” Abdullah asserted. He criticized the BJP’s approach, pointing out that while they had previously sought votes in the name of Lord Ram, they are now attempting to scare the electorate.
Referring to the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah questioned its effectiveness, stating, “They repealed Article 370, but did terrorism end? On the contrary, it is rising again, and that is their responsibility.” His remarks were in response to the BJP’s election focus on Jammu and the lack of attention to Kashmir, questioning why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah concentrated their campaigns on one region.
Responding to Shah’s criticism of the NC-Congress coalition, Abdullah insisted that the BJP’s attempts to discredit his party would fail. He reaffirmed his party’s vision of an inclusive India, where all religious communities—Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and Buddhists—play an equal part. “We are not intruders in this country. Muslims have contributed equally to the freedom of India,” Abdullah emphasized.
Regarding the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah expressed optimism, asserting that the NC-Congress alliance would work towards achieving it. As for the BJP’s manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir elections, he dismissed it as mere “rhetoric” (jumla), signaling that it lacked genuine commitment or substance.