National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that PDP had shamed and embarrassed Muslims in general and Kashmiri Muslims in particular by allying with RSS in the State. Addressing an impressive public meeting in Kangan Assembly Segment on Monday, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said RSS represents decades of suppression of Muslims and other minorities in the country and that by aligning with RSS, Mehbooba Mufti had sold her 2014 mandate and her conscience for power.“RSS represents decades of suppression of Muslims across the country and has openly advocated the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status since 1947. Today, both as a Kashmiri and a Muslim, I am disappointed and ashamed that PDP sold its 2014 mandate and its conscience to attain political power”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said while addressing the gathering. Dr. Farooq Abdullah said after selling PDP to the RSS, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was now trying her best to sell Kashmiris – their rights, dignity and honour – to the RSS. She doesn’t leave a single opportunity to heap praise on the RSS, the BJP and even those leaders of the Sangh Parivar who have openly advocated the destruction of minorities. This betrayal is historic and shameful and will have far-reaching consequences for the State if we don’t rise to the occasion and defeat this alliance of opportunism and evil”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah added.
“By aligning with the RSS, Mehbooba Mufti has put the honour of our people at stake. National Conference has never bowed down in front of these bigoted, communal and anti-Muslim forces and we will never join hands with them for power. We will bow our heads in faith only in front of our God and nobody else”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said to loud cheers and slogans resonating from the gathering. Dr. Farooq Abdullah asked the people to not forget about the battle of justice waged by Hazrat Musa (AS) against Pharoah and his armies and said truth, justice and honesty will always tide over suppression, brute force and tyranny. “Mehbooba Ji’s ally, the BJP, didn’t field a single Muslim candidate in Uttar Pradesh which has nearly four crore Muslims. And Mehbooba Ji expects the same Narendra Modi to follow the footsteps of Atal Bihari Vajpayee? Both Mehbooba Mufti and Narendra Modi are trying to fool us as their words don’t match what is in their hearts”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said.
“The day is not far when God will teach a lesson to those who have sold their conscience to remain in power and for harassing and humiliating the people for their own self-seeking ambitions. Your opportunism and fascism cannot divide us. Muslims have always been peace-loving and will continue to respect all faiths and religions even while the ruling forces are encouraging attacks on mosques across the country. Wasn’t the demolition of Babri Masjid enough to satiate your sadistic and bigoted vision that now your supporters are barging into mosques to chant slogans? My message to these forces is loud and clear – you can attack our mosques but you can’t wipe our faith and our pride from our hearts”, the National Conference President said.Making an appeal for unity against communal and anti-Kashmir forces in the upcoming by-elections in the Valley, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said this was not about small ideological differences and issues between various entities in Kashmir but about the larger battle against BJP and RSS. “Today this is not a battle between Farooq Abdullah and this alliance but a larger battle for our very survival with dignity and honour.
Today we all – including our brothers in Jamaat-e-Islami have to come together to fight RSS or our identity and honour will be wiped out. I am just one person but I seek your support so that we can all collectively fight against the RSS with honour and courage”, Dr. Farooq Abdullah added. Senior Congress Leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Former Chief Minsiter Ghulam Nabi Azad also addressed the gathering and implored on people to put up a united and spirited fights against the communal, anti-Kashmir BJP and RSS. Mian Altaf Ahmed asked the people to vote in large numbers for the victory of Dr. Farooq Abdullah as this was a battle of justice and dignity against forces of oppression and tyranny.National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, Senior Leader and MLA Kangan Mian Altaf Ahmed, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, Former Member of Parliament Sharif-ud-din Shariq also addressed the gathering and sought a unified effort to defeat BJP and RSS in the upcoming elections. (KNS)