Farooq Abdullah rejects agenda for uniform civil code

National Conference patron and candidate for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat Farooq Abdullah Monday said common civil code would not be accepted by the Indian Muslims at any cost.

"No Muslim in India will tolerate a common civil code for Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and followers of other religions to the exclusion of the Sharia law," Abdullah said at an election rally in Kashmir's Kangan town, 40 km from here.

"It (BJP) is also talking of building the Ram Mandir and other things," he said.

"BJP's priorities have made the election in Kashmir a question of saving the identity of this place and its people rather than voting for Farooq Abdullah or someone else," Abdullah said.

He also lambasted the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and said, "Thank God, I am not a Mufti like him. If he can join hands with BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi after claiming to be a Mufti, you should be able to imagine what other things he must be capable of doing."

"Mufti Muhammad Sayeed has been blaming us for enforcing boycott in Anantnag district, which is clearly an indication that the PDP has lost the seat," said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also addressed the rally.

Kangan is an assembly segment in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

Farooq Abdullah is seeking re-election from Srinagar, and he is challenged by PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra.

Srinagar goes to vote April 30.