With separatist leader and Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in audience, ruling National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah tore into separatist politics and said his party chose Mahatma Gandhi over the slogans of “Nara-e-Takbeer Allahu Akbar” and underlined that Kashmir would never be Pakistan.
Speaking at the book release of “Healer in Exile: The Untold Story of Dr. Sushil Razdan” authored by his son Sachin Razdan on Sunday, Dr. Abdullah made a policy statement with a spectrum of political leaders, which include leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the BJP, the Congress and other regional parties in attendance.
“When there were slogans of “Nara-e-Takbeer Allahu Akbar” in Jammu and Kashmir, we chose Gandhi’s way and still held on to that, but Gandhi was killed and removed. We have to safeguard and revive Gandhi. We have to reject hate,” said Dr. Abdullah.
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In an indirect reference to the politics of separatists, Dr. Abdullah said, “Kashmir will never be Pakistani and we will never become Pakistan.” “External forces [Pakistan] are still trying to wrest Jammu and Kashmir. We will die and not allow it to happen,” said Dr. Abdullah.
