National Conference (NC) President and Srinagar candidate for parliament by-polls, Dr Farooq Abdullah Wednesday said that the stone throwers have nothing to do with tourism as they are rendering their lives for resolution of Kashmir issue.Dr Farooq was reacting to the statement made by PM Modi while inaugurating the Chenani-Nashri tunnel at Udhampur on Sunday wherein he had said that the youth in Kashmir should choose between tourism and terrorism.Addressing a gathering during a function here at his Gupkar residence, Dr Farooq said, “PM Modi while inaugurating the tunnel had said that the youth in Kashmir should choose between tourism and terrorism. I want to tell him from this stage that the tourism is our life and there is no doubt over it. But the youth throwing stones have nothing to do with tourism. They are not rendering their lives for tourism but for the resolution of Kashmir issue.”He said, “The youth who are pelting stones for the nation wants any concrete resolution that would accommodate the aspirations of people of Kashmir.”Dr Farooq said that Modi is not the one who provides the livelihood to the people. “It is Allah who is providing the livelihood to the people irrespective of their religions,” he added.
He said, “We (Muslims) have never raised fingers over their religion (Hindu religion). Even sometimes I have myself sung their Bhajans. They must not interfere in our religion.”Meanwhile, Dr Farooq said, “America wanted to act as moderator between India and Pakistan in resolving the Kashmir issue but India always expressed reluctance in involving them over the issue. India always tried to resolve the issue without involving anyone into it but unfortunately no result was yielded despite passing several decades.”Saying that the intervention of America in resolving the Kashmir issue was ‘a welcoming step’, Dr Farooq said, “America should act as moderator between India and Pakistan in resolving the long pending Kashmir issue in case the two neighbouring countries fail to resolve it on their own.”Stating that the dialogue must be initiated to resolve the Kashmir issue, former chief minister said, “Dialogue must be initiated to resolve the Kashmir issue before the possible war between the two countries.” (KNS)