‘Lost thousands to slogans, can’t afford more’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 11: Democratic Azad Party (DAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad today said politicians should talk about uniting people and not to create divisions on the basis of politics and religion.
“Everyone has a right to put across his or her viewpoint but they should talk about uniting people, not create divisions. They should not divide people on the basis of politics or religion. We will have to separate religion from politics,” Azad said at a party function.
The former Chief Minister said there were some leaders and parties that were creating divisions in society. “There are some parties whose statements and activities have the potential to create discord in society. I criticise and oppose such policies which can create divisions in the society,” he said.
Azad also said elections should not be an excuse to spread hate, adding “elections have been held in the past as well.”
He said that J&K and its people are going through a testing time and mere slogans are of no use. “We have lost thousands of lives to some slogans. We cannot afford to lose even one more life to such slogans,” he added.
“When I was here (as Chief Minister), we were doing both things. Security forces were fighting the terrorists but we saved hundreds of youths and brought them back into the mainstream. No effort is being made in that direction now,” he added.
“You cannot just go on killing. That way we will kill the entire youth. In our families, our children sometimes do not listen to us. We ask his friend or teacher to make him understand and bring him back on track,” he added.
Azad that those who are opting the wrong path might have compulsions and that he and his party wants all these youngsters to join back the right path so that they live a peaceful life.
“There are many youngsters who are choosing the wrong path like militancy, drug abuse and other things. I have seen during my tenure as Chief Minister that a youngster had joined militancy as he had no job and had five sisters. Thus, these youngsters opting the wrong path might have compulsions like unemployment and other things, which needs to be addressed,” Azad told reporters on the sidelines of the function.
He said that he wants the youth, who are on the wrong track, to join the right path. “I don’t talk about those only who have joined militancy, but I talk about all the youngsters who are involved in other issues like drug abuse and other things as well. There are several reasons behind such actions of the youngsters, which include unemployment and other issues as well,” he said.
Asked about Omar Abdulah and Mehbooba Mufti not participating in upcoming elections, Azad said: “I respect every political leader. I don’t want to utter anything about the political leaders, but the fact is there is uncertainty in Kashmir for the last some years. I don’t want to blame them; they might be right about their decisions and being the head of their parties. However, the uncertainty about the elections should come to an end.”
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