Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 3: National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today lashed out at Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) for communal strife in the country and said now the opportunity has come, which has to be utlised.
Addressing an election rally in Beerwah area of Budgam district, Abdullah said that country is facing communal strife due to BJP. “Today our nation is facing immense hazard in the form of communal strife. We are at cross roads, now it is up to us to decide if India remains secular and progressive in its outlook where in all the communities thrive and draw their sustenance affably or a country which is tangled with the clutches of communal strife and bigotry. Now it is up to the people. The opportunity has come; we should not let it pass by us unutilized”, he said.
The former Chief Minister said BJP and RSS have tarnished the secular fabric of India. “Today we are facing such forces in our country that have always shown abhorrence for the inclusiveness of Indian democratic set up. The forces are pitching one community with another without assuming the far reaching consequences it. The constitution of India ensures all its citizenry equal and undaunted basic rights”, he said.
“Today on one hand there is Gandhi’s India which is all inclusive and on other hand there are forces, which believe that India belongs to the adherents of only one faith. World has seen such fascist forces trying their level best to harm the brotherhood and peace before as well in the form of Hitler. Today we are facing modern day Hitlers and Gobbles. Like Gobbles they thrive on falsehood, lies and mendacious politics”, Abdullah said.
The NC president said that Modi government has failed at all fronts and is now hiding behind the Pulwama attack. “Modi government failed on all fronts. However, they saw a way out by masquerading behind the Pulwama attack. When many CRPF Jawans were devoured upon in Chhattisgarh, PM Modi didn’t go there. The sacrifice of CRPF men in Chhattisgarh didn’t move him, he remained unfazed. Not just that when the bodies of slain CRPF men were brought to Delhi, PM Modi was busy in a shooting. The bodies of slain CRPF were kept in waiting for the tributes which were to be paid by PM Modi”, he said.
Abdullah said that Modi government took advantage of Pulwama attack to divert attention of people from the issues like farmer’s distress, price rise, foreign policy failures, and falling economy. “I have not seen such an actor like Modi. His eminence in theatrics has surpassed all actors. He has been doing nothing but lying to people since he took the reins of power. He squandered the mandate of people besides that he spoiled the precious time of nation and its people. Not to deliver on the promises which he made, he aggravated the situation to an extent which will take years to restore. Every single vital sector of our country is presenting a grimy tale of mis-governance,” he said.
The NC president while flaying BJP leaders Amit Shah and Arun Jaitley said that Muslims of the country don’t need certificates from BJP-RSS on their patriotism. “Had we sought to go with Pakistan no power on earth would have barred us from doing that, however Muslims of India chose to live in a secular progressive country”, he said.
“We are not anti national, we have given immense sacrifices for the unity of nation. I have lost many of my party functionaries and workers to the frenzy of conflict. These people don’t see that, but when we raise voice for the restoration of our rights we are being tainted as national”, Abdullah said.
The former Chief Minister flayed PDP for surrendering State’s fiscal autonomy. “In 1996 when I took over as the Chief Minister of the State, sales tax amount was over due to people. But the situation was such that the people were not in a condition to pay back their dues. Sensing the appalling financial condition of the people, I waived off some amount and doled out well thought-out policy where in people were told to pay back the sales tax in twenty years time. But now we cannot imagine easing the burden off people’s shoulders all thanks to PDP government who took no time to implement GST in our State. Now if the State Government wants to do something on those lines, it has to get permission from the Centre. This is what PDP has done. Whatever was left of our autonomy, they shamelessly surrendered it before the Centre for the sake of chair and power.”
” Such were Mufti’s enamored by the lust of power that they gulped down the insult inflicted by PM Modi on late Mufti Syed publically while addressing a public meet in Srinagar. Had I been there I would have bade good bye to the coalition and Modi on spot. But that requires moral strength, which time has shown is lacking in PDP”, he said.
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