Minorities in India living under 'fear and uncertainty': Farooq Abdullah

The NC chief blamed the PDP for facilitating BJP s growth in J&K.

Srinagar, Mar 25: The National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday claimed that the minorities in the country were living in 'fear and uncertainty' and warned that the situation in Kashmir could become more grim if the divisive forces are not stopped.

"The minorities in India are living under perpetual fear and uncertainty and if the divisive forces are not stopped, the day is not far when the situation in the Valley will become grimmer," Abdullah, who is contesting the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat by-polls told party workers at Budgam in central Kashmir.

Seeking support, he said the upcoming by-polls in Srinagar and Anantnag are a fight for 'survival of secularism', which is at peril in the wake of 'communal and divisive forces' taking centre stage in the state.

"The outcome of the two parliamentary seats from Kashmir, should, therefore, send a terse message to the fascist forces, who are overtly and covertly trying to establish foothold through PDP," Abdullah said attacking political rivals.

The NC chief blamed the PDP for facilitating BJP s growth in J&K adding that it has unfolded a 'big challenge' for the people.

"For loaves of power, the PDP betrayed the mandate by hobnobbing with the RSS after seeking votes against them in the first instance," he said referring to PDP's anti-BJP campaign in the 2014 Assembly polls.

Working president of National Conference Omar Abdullah, addressing a rally, asked people to realize the danger of 'fascism' hovering over the state and get united to defeat it with full might.

"The magnitude of danger is so alarming that the leaders like Tariq Hamid Karra and Aga Mohsin, who stood against National Conference in the 2014 elections, are now sharing the same platform with the party to foil the advance of RSS due to PDP's courtesy," he said.

What has happened to PDP's lofty slogans about return of power projects and repealing of Armed Forces Special Powers Act," Omar asked and said the 'insensitive dispensation does not have a single achievement to take credit for'.

The former chief minister said the only 'achievement' the PDP can brag about is that the 'people were deprived of offering prayers in Jamia Masjid consecutively for 18 Fridays. This has not even happened during the reign of autocracy in the State'.

PTI