Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 2 : National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today said the Centre should stop actions that could create communal tension and treat Muslims equally.
Abdullah said while speaking to reporters here that the Government should stop actions against Muslims.
“I would like to tell the Government to stop such actions. You can’t throw Muslims into the sea; where would you throw 24 crore Muslims? They should treat Muslims equally-that is what our Constitution stands for. There is no difference on the basis of religion or language; everyone is equal. If the Government breaks the law, how will India survive?”, he asked.
The NC president said that the Government should review the reservation policy.
“We will tell the Government to review it. Reservation is for the underprivileged sections so that they can come up as equals,” he said.
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The Government has formed a Cabinet sub-committee to look into the demands for rationalisation of reservations, which have gone up to 70 per cent in the Union Territory.
On termination of two Government employees, Abdullah said, “I have heard about it; the Government will investigate. Why was the person removed? What was the reason? No one can be removed arbitrarily. God willing, this will be addressed.”
The NC president said that no one was against the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.
“Who is stopping Kashmiri Pandits from coming back? Every political party has said they should return. It is their decision when they want to return. Our hearts are open for them. Even when I was the Chief Minister, when the situation was bad, we tried to bring them back,” he added.
Abdullah also welcomed the Israel-Lebanon ‘ceasefire’, but called for an end to attacks on Gaza, Syria and Iran as well.
“It (ceasefire) is a very good step, but it is necessary to stop attacks jointly being carried out by Israel and America — in Gaza, Syria and Iran, which are continuing even today. This is dangerous. They should immediately resort to ceasefire. You must have watched the debates in the (UN) Security Council. If there is a purpose for (the existence of) Security Council, it should work on the directions given to Israel. They should enforce a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid,” he added.
On his recent religious pilgrimage, Abdullah said he not only prayed for Kashmir, but for the entire Muslim world.
“The problems we are facing today, may Allah deliver us from these. May Allah guide us to the right path. I prayed that we stay away from evil and for the end of religious hatred that has spread in our country. I prayed for unity and harmony,” he said.
On regional political parties criticizing NC over the dominance of LG, Farooq said that criticising for self-promotion is wrong. “I have prayed for them too, that God guides them to the right path. Our problems are shared, and they should help address them. Criticism alone won’t solve anything. Criticizing for the sake of self-promotion is wrong”.
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