Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah Monday urged people to remain vigilant and ensure the victory of NC candidates in the upcoming assembly elections.
He emphasized the importance of unity and perseverance while addressing a workers’ convention today at Malikpura Balisa in Block Pingal in Doda on the third day of his 7-day-long visit to the Chenab region.
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.
He expressed concern over the rising trend of spreading hatred, particularly noting the divisive tactics used by the BJP. Dr Abdullah condemned the Prime Minister’s use of inflammatory language during elections, which sought to pit communities against each other. He emphasized that such divisive tactics only serve to further divide the people.
“In a time of great difficulty, where words fail to describe the challenges we face, striking unity is not an option but a necessity,” he said
Criticising the delimitation process, which he believed was carried out on a divisive basis, he said, “People need to remain vigilant and reject divisive elements.” He stressed the importance of unity in the face of adversity, stating that despair is not an option.
He called for a united front against divisive forces, emphasizing that mutual unity is the key to overcoming the challenges of the present time. He expressed concern over the current state of affairs, noting that 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 behavior. 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.”
“The Prime Minister’s remarks about giving Hindu possessions to Muslims if his party does not win, and suggesting that Hindu women’s jewelry should be given to Muslims, are not only divisive but also dangerous. This divisive behavior is a reflection of the evil times we are living in, where people are being torn apart instead of bringing them together,” he added.
He criticized the delimitation process, pointing out that it was done in a divisive manner, as evidenced by the illogical connections made between different regions. However, he expressed hope that the people will reject these divisive tactics and instead focus on unity to address issues such as corruption, unemployment, inflation, and lack of accountability. “As the upcoming elections draw near, it is crucial to make wise decisions to combat sectarian forces and uphold the principles of democracy. Unity is our strength, and it is imperative to stand together against those who seek to divide us,” he said.
