Centre should keep tabs on activities that spark communal tension: Farooq

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the Centre should put a stop to activities that can spark communal tension in the country, and treat Muslims as equals.

Talking to reporters in Srinagar after returning from Saudi Arabia where he performed Umrah, Abdullah said there is no doubt that Muslims are feeling unsafe. “I will tell the Government of India to stop (acts like Sambhal) because they cannot throw the Muslims into the sea. Where will they throw 24 crore Muslims?,” Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar.

He said Muslims should be treated as equals. “That is what our Constitution is,” he said, adding, “If they try to fiddle with the Constitution, how will India survive.”

Asked about the recent termination of two employees by J&K L-G Manoj Sinha, he said the elected government will keep an eye on everything. “It will see why it has happened,” the former chief minister said.

To another question about the return of Kashmiri Pandits, Abdullah said no one was against the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley. “Who is stopping Kashmiri Pandits from coming back? Every political party has said they should return. It is their decision when they want to return. Our hearts are open for them. Even when I was the chief minister, when the situation was bad, we tried to bring them back,” he said.

On demands seeking review of the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the government should review the same. “We will tell the government to review it. Reservation is for the underprivileged sections so that they can come up as equals,” he said.

The veteran politician also welcomed the Israel-Lebanon ‘ceasefire’, but called for an end to attacks on Gaza, Syria and Iran as well. “It (ceasefire) is a very good step, but it is necessary to stop attacks jointly being carried out by Israel and America — in Gaza, Syria and Iran, which are continuing even today. This is dangerous. They should immediately resort to ceasefire.

“You must have watched the debates in the (United Nations) Security Council. If there is a purpose for (the existence of) Security Council, it should work on the directions given to Israel. They should enforce a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid,” Abdullah said.

On his recent religious pilgrimage, the former Chief Minister said he had not only prayed for Kashmir, but for the entire Muslim world. “The problems we are facing today, may Allah deliver us from these. May Allah guide us to the right path. I prayed that we stay away from evil and for the end of religious hatred that has spread in our country. I prayed for unity and harmony,” he said.