A fresh political row has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after former chief minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah made remarks that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has condemned as pro-Pakistan and anti-national.
Abdullah said the Indian government’s thinking and intentions regarding Kashmiris were not right, according to reports. He also said Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts were what had made Kashmiris’ voices heard internationally. The comments have set off a sharp exchange between the BJP and the NC.
BJP national spokesperson RP Singh urged Abdullah to look at conditions for Kashmiris across the border. He said conditions in Jammu and Kashmir have improved since Article 370 was abrogated and the region was fully integrated with India. Singh said nearly two crore tourists visit Kashmir each year, boosting its economy.
BJP national council member Yamini Sharma said the remarks insulted the Constitution and the patriotic people of Jammu and Kashmir. She noted that thousands have died in the region because of cross-border terrorism and alleged that Abdullah was voicing Pakistan’s position. She said the NC had become “a voice for Pakistan.”
BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi called the remarks anti-India and pro-Pakistan, and said a sedition case should be filed against anyone who speaks against the country. He said the world knows Pakistan is behind terrorism and violence in Jammu and Kashmir, and demanded that Abdullah apologize for his comments.
A response from the National Conference was not immediately available. In earlier disputes, the party has described BJP attacks on Abdullah as politically motivated.
Abdullah’s comments on India-Pakistan relations have drawn BJP criticism before. He has previously argued that dialogue between the two countries is the only way forward on Kashmir. The BJP’s position is that the region has seen development and rising tourism since Article 370 was removed in August 2019.