Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

How many more Pakistans will you create, asks Farooq

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria ravi.khajuria@hindustant­imes.com

JAMMU: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday not only reiterated his recent statement of ‘PoK belongs to Pakistan’ but also lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre asking, “You have made one Pakistan. How many more Pakistans will you create?”

He also painted a scary picture if Article 35-A was revoked saying, “Jammu will be the first to bear its maximum brunt”.

Addressing party workers at party headquarte­rs here he said that PoK was with Pakistan for the past 70 years and India and Pakistan have fought four wars.

“What did I say? When did National Conference stop anyone to take back PoK? Go and take it. They (Pakistan) are not wearing bangles. They also have atom bombs. Even the Prime Minister talked about maintainin­g the sanctity of the Line of Control (LoC). Today, we are being intimidate­d by them. And, when did National Conference ask for Azadi. We always asked for autonomy, which is in the Indian Constituti­on,” he said.

Farooq also said that the BJP government was hell bent upon creating a divide between Hindus and Muslims. “Ye Hindustan tumhare baap ka nahi (This country is not your father's). This country belongs to everyone, be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian. They can choose their candidate, it's their right,” he said and added that people of India can’t be threatened to garner votes.

 ?? PTI ?? Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah holds a sword during a programme as he visits the city first time after getting reelected as party's president in Jammu on Saturday.
PTI Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah holds a sword during a programme as he visits the city first time after getting reelected as party's president in Jammu on Saturday.

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