SRINAGAR: Playing to galleries yet again, former Chief Minister and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Friday kicked up a controversy by saying that the new generation of militants in Kashmir were fighting for “freedom”.
“These boys have left (for the path of militancy). Everyone loves life, nobody wants to die. They have made promise to God that you decide the matters of life and death but we will sacrifice our life for the freedom of this nation,” Abdullah said at a function held at National Conference (NC) headquarters here. The NC chief said the new generation of Kashmiris was fearless and were “not scared of guns”. “A new generation has taken birth which does not fear guns. It is striving to achieve freedom for this nation,” he said.
The former Union minister said the boys “rendering sacrifices” were not aspiring to be MLAs, MPs or ministers. “They are giving sacrifices to demand their right: (they say) this is our land and we are its rightful owners but they (India and Pakistan) do not understand this,” he said, asking the party workers not to forget these sacrifices.
Lashing out at both India and Pakistan, Abdullah said the two countries “have not done justice” to Kashmiris. “We are not anybody’s enemy…This fight started in 1931. But we are asking both the countries to do justice to us. You even forgot promises you made in 1948,” he said.
The National Conference president said Peoples Democratic party (PDP’s) coalition with BJP is one of the reasons for the latest tendency of people to rush towards encounter sites. “The present government (during electioneering) had made a promise to the people that they won’t align with communal parties. (Former Chief Minister) Mufti (Mohammad Sayeed) entered into an agreement with them (BJP). The people will not accept this. And this is the one of the reason for it,” he said.
Abdullah also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his claim about discrimination in power supply during Ramzan and Diwali in Uttar Pradesh. “It is regretful. Prime Minister should talk in such a way that unites people rather than creating a division. I had not expected such statements from the Prime Minister,” he said.
During his address to party workers on the occasion of the second death anniversary of former NC general secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, Abdullah said the youth of Kashmir were “sacrificing their lives for their rights and not for any political positions.” He said the people of Kashmir are not enemies of any nation.
“We are not anyone’s enemy. Neither are we India’s enemy nor Pakistan’s enemy, but we ask them to do justice with us.
You have not done justice with us,” he said. He said for peace in the region, India and Pakistan’s friendship is vital.