M A I N   N E W S

Omar, Modi spar over communal claims
J-K CM blames BJP for Pandits’ exodus as Modi accuses Abdullahs of polarising state
Azhar Qadri
Tribune News Service

Srinagar/Kangan, April 28
J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today launched a scathing counter-attack on BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi saying they did not want any “lecture on secularism from him”.

Omar came out in defence of his father Farooq Abdullah and the family by rubbishing Modi’s charge of his family communalising the state “just for the sake of politics”.

Omar also blamed the BJP for the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley saying it took place under the watch of Jagmohan, the Governor appointed by a BJP-backed Central Government.

The National Conference leader lashed out at Modi for disrespecting the Kashmiri “nation” and said the BJP prime ministerial candidate had “no guts” to come to Kashmir.

Modi earlier accused National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and his family of doing “most harm to secularism” and communalising the state. He also accused the Abdullah family of removing Kashmir Pandits “from their homes only due to their religion”.

“Modi, in his statement, has tried to disrespect the entire (Kashmiri) ‘qaum’ (nation). He has targeted Farooq sahib, but he also targeted every Kashmiri and tried to project that if anyone is communal in this country it is the Kashmiri people,” Omar said.

“We don’t need any lecture on secularism from you,” Omar said. “You (Modi) will go to Jammu, Ladakh and other places of the country, but don’t have the guts to come to Kashmir,” the J-K Chief Minister said.

Omar said the people of the state had “taught” secularism to entire nation in 1947 when “Hindus and Muslims were murdering each other” at other places. “In the entire world (if) someone is considered an opposite of secularism in this country, it is Narendra Modi,” Omar said. Earlier, reacting to Farooq’s remark that those voting for the BJP prime ministerial candidate should drown in sea, Modi said the biggest blow to secularism in India was delivered in Kashmir from where Kashmiri Pandits were forced out due to their religion.

Using a video message released by the Gujarat Chief Minister’s office in Ahmedabad to lash out at Abdullah, Modi said the Union minister had no moral right to preach against communalism as policies of his father Sheikh Abdullah, him and his son (Omar) were responsible for “communalising” the state politics. “If somebody has to drown, then you should look at your (Abdullah) face in mirror. Put your father’s face in front of mirror and ask this question. Those who have chased Kashmiri Pandits out have no face to preach against communalism,” Modi said in a statement.

Omar retorted back blaming the BJP for the 1990 “exodus” of Kashmiri Pandits. “I think I need to lecture Modi about when the Kashmiri Pandits left… Kashmiri Pandits did not leave in Farooq Abdullah’s time (as Chief Minister) but during (then Governor) Jagmohan’s tenure, who was brought here by Mufti Sayeed,” Omar said. Sayeed, who now heads the PDP, was the Union Home Minister in VP Singh’s Cabinet, which had a support of the BJP, he said. “So Modi sahib, if Kashmiri Pandits left from here, it was with the help of your party,” said Omar.

He also accused Modi of twisting history, saying it is a “dangerous thing” for someone aspiring to become a Prime Minister. “Modi knows a lot of things but his history is weak. He understands history only to a level which suits him,” Omar said.

“Neither my family nor this state needs a certificate of your secularism. God forbid, the day I get a certificate of secularism from you, I think I may have to resign from politics,” he said.

The J-K Chief Minister said there was nothing wrong in his father saying that Kashmir will not be part of a communal India.

“He (Farooq) is not stupid. He did not say Kashmir will not be part of India if Modi becomes the Prime Minister. He said Kashmir will not be part of a communal India and I don’t see anything wrong in that,” he added.

(With agency inputs)