Jammu: National Conference President and parliamentarian Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday expressed grave concern over “communalization of politics” ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections and cautioned the BJP to desist from dividing the nation on religious lines.
“Polarised India is detrimental to growth, progress, unity and peace,” Farooq said, apprehending the BJP to raise religious pitch, as it has “failed” in delivering promises of development, jobs to youth and respite to farmers, among other sectors like education and health during over past four years.
He decried the misuse of religion for political and electoral gains and said that politics of hate has emerged as a huge threat to the country.
He was speaking at a function held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this morning, held to welcome former Vice Chancellor of Jammu University Prof R. R Sharma, former Director Information, Narender Singh and former Additional Commissioner and retired IAS officer Mohammed Saleem in National Conference.
He said division of people on religious lines was a biggest challenge to the country that has to be countered by effectively promoting the spirit of inconclusiveness. He reminded those sowing seeds of mistrust and hate for their political survival that the Indian tricolor was conceived by a Muslim. With such a contribution of Indian Muslims, he asked how the self-proclaimed hyper-nationalists could raise fingers on anybody’s patriotism.
Introducing and welcoming the new entrants into the National Conference fold, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said Prof R R Sharma, Mr Narender Singh and Mr Mohammed Salim have had a successful innings in their respective fields and hoped their joining will further strengthen the party at grass roots level.
He described the joining of three stalwarts into National Conference as a natural choice for public spirited persons, as the party duly reflects the glorious ethos of the state.”Joining of a Hindu, a Muslim and a Sikh is in true consonance with the philosophy of National Conference’s cherished agenda of brotherhood”, he maintained.
