Farooq Abdullah & family communalising J&K politics: Modi

The National Conference president on Sunday had said that those who 'vote for Modi should jump into the sea'

BS Reporter Ahmedabad
Last Updated : Apr 28 2014 | 8:43 PM IST
BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Monday hit back at Union minister Dr Farooq Abdullah asking him not to give lessons on secularism and blamed him and his family of communalising politics in state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The National Conference president on Sunday had said that those who 'vote for Modi should jump into the sea'.

"I want to tell Dr Farooq Abdullah (that) secularism is not only in-built in our constitution but also in our veins. We believe that the world is our family and in such a society if such statements (by Abdullah) are made it is unfortunate," Modi told a television channel on Monday.

Making a personal attack, Modi blamed Abdullah and his family of communalising the politics in Jammu & Kashmir. "In our culture of thousands of years, the biggest harm on secular fabric done anywhere is done in J&K and it is done due to politics of your father, yourself and your son. It is due to your politics and politics of your son. Kashmir is the only land from where Pandits were removed solely for their religion. The land of Sufism and harmony has been made communal due to your politics," Modi charged.

"You talk of drowning those who vote for Modi but you have committed sin of making Kashmir communal. Such words do not suit you. And if someone has to drown please look in the mirror and see who should drown. How can those who removed Kashmiri Pandits talk of secularism. You cannot insult our values and culture like this," the BJP leader added.

Modi further remarked, "If we want to talk about secularism then I want to say-we are secular not because the word was added in the Constitution. We have believed in Sarva Pantha Sambhav. We believe truth is one and there are ways to reach it."

He went on to add, "India is a nation that thinks about everyone. Using the sword we have never attacked other cultures. Such expansionist mindset is not in our blood. We cannot tolerate such lessons on what secularism is."

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First Published: Apr 28 2014 | 8:33 PM IST

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