From 'traitors' to 'nationalists', Farooq Abdullah's flip-flop on stone pelters

Political parties have slammed NC chief Farooq Abdullah's latest stand on stone pelters.

Srinagar, April 6: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah created a new controversy ahead of elections in Jammu and Kashmir by calling stone pelters as 'nationalists' during a campaign rally in Srinagar on Wednesday. The Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha bypolls are scheduled on April 9.

Abdullah's comment on stone pelters came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked youths of Kashmir to join development and shun violence while addressing a rally at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir after inaugurating Asia's longest tunnel -- Chenani-Nashri.

"Some misguided youngsters are pelting stones but see here, Kashmir youth are using the same stones to build infrastructure. Youth of Kashmir have a choice to make from two paths -- tourism or terrorism," PM Modi had said.

"I want to tell Modi sahib that tourism is our life no doubt about that, but a stone pelter has nothing to do with tourism," Abdullah was quoted saying by news agency ANI.

"If he (stone pelting youth) is giving up his life, he is not doing it for tourism. He is giving his life so that the destiny of this nation is decided which should be acceptable to the people of this place. This needs to be understood," he said.

His remarks have been slammed by most of the political parties, including the People's Democratic Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. The BJP said that Abdullah, who earlier used to call stone pelters as 'traitors', has changed his stand.

"Abdullah used to call these stone pelters traitors during his government and when his son was the chief minister. They have nothing to do with the nation and religion. Changing statements just for the sake of vote does not suit any politician," BJP leader Prabhat Jha told ANI.

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain added that Abdullah's statement was unfortunate.

"In Parliament, he raises slogans like 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Hindustan Jindabad' on the other hand he is protecting the ones who are pelting stones at the Indian Army. This is very saddening and he should apologise for his statement," Hussain told ANI.

For promoting the cause of stone pelters, who are under the scrutiny of security forces for their alleged role in terrorism, the Congress said Abdullah was misleading the children of Kashmir.

"This whole scenario is entirely depended on tourism and terrorism, where tourism needs peace while terrorism is increasing day by day for which we have to make an all out effort to eradicate it as soon as possible," added Tulsi.

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