Mufti Sayeed responsible for rising intolerance in Kashmir: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Dec 5: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday held his successor Mufti Muhammad Sayeed responsible for "rising incidents of intolerance" in the state.

He also accusing the ruling PDP-BJP dispensation for "communal incidents" and creating a regional divide.

"We had offered him (Sayeed) unconditional support to form the government in the state, despite political differences. But he choose a saffron party to ally with," Abdullah said at a function to pay tributes to National Conference's founder and his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah here.

He said Sayeed's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by forming the coalition with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has "encouraged" communal groups to aggressively implement their agenda.

"Sayeed asked votes from people by creating fear pyschosis about BJP storming to power, but later betrayed people by shaking hands with same party," he added.

Abdullah claimed regional divide between different provinces in the state has increased during the present regime.

"Our party (NC) believes in communal harmony and will act as bridge between all regions of Jammu and Kashmir," he asserted.

He termed Sheikh Abdullah, as "tallest leader of Kashmir" and said he (Sheikh) was symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity in the state.

The former chief minister expressed optimism about upcoming visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan and hoped it would revive the stalled dialogue process.

IANS