BJP attacks Farooq, says NC is harbinger of communal politics in J&K

The BJP hit out at National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, claiming he had no moral authority to accuse it of "divisive politics" as his party was the harbinger of communal and divisive politics in Jammu and Kashmir.

State BJP spokesperson Anil Gupta told reporters that people did not take Abdullah seriously anymore, but he continued to issue statements hoping that the sinking boat of his dynastic party might find some sympathisers willing to take it ashore.

"The NC has no moral authority to accuse the BJP of divisive politics since the NC, under his father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, was the harbinger of communal and divisive politics in Jammu and Kashmir which was being pursued by his heirs assiduously," he said.

Abdullah had Thursday charged the BJP with divisive politics in the country and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be tolerant. He had also accused the BJP of "mastering communal divide".

The BJP leader said from the "Quit Kashmir" movement to the demand for "greater autonomy", every move of the NC had been communal and divisive.

"The carving of Muslim majority districts of Doda and Kargil, division of Jammu region into Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal region on communal lines, changing names of towns, villages and historical monuments, demographic invasion of Jammu, expulsion of Kashmiri Pandits, Roshni Act, neglect of Sufism, resettlement act and permanent residents bill were some examples of the divisive mindset of the NC and Abdullahs," Gupta claimed.

Reacting sharply to Abdullah's remarks, Gupta said, "If protection of the majority's interests is divisive according to Farooq, then what would he term the NC-Congress votebank politics which is based on playing Hindus and Muslims against each other?"