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  India   Politics  16 Dec 2016  Farooq Abdullah soft on Hurriyat to protect NC activists?

Farooq Abdullah soft on Hurriyat to protect NC activists?

THE ASIAN AGE. | YUSUF JAMEEL
Published : Dec 16, 2016, 1:06 am IST
Updated : Dec 16, 2016, 6:31 am IST

The fresh trend started after the killing of Hizb’s commander Burhan on July 8 which also pushed the Valley into worst turmoil of decades.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah (Photo: PTI)
 Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah (Photo: PTI)

Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah recently virtually stirred a hornet’s nest by announcing that he and his party will throw their weight behind the separatist Hurriyat Conference in the struggle of getting the people of Kashmir their political right.

He also asked his party cadres “not to stay aloof” from the ongoing campaign being spearheaded by “joint resistance leadership” comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. The BJP and other like-minded parties and groups were quick to slam Mr Abdullah over his “irresponsible” statement and short fall of calling him ‘anti-national’.

But there seems to be more to Mr Abdullah’s these apparent controversial statements than meets the eye. The sources in the NC, the oldest mainstream political party of J&K, said that its leadership is worried at the turn of events in the state, particularly in the Valley where the anti-India sentiment and its influence on its younger generation have reached their peak.

The fresh trend started after the killing of Hizb’s commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8 which also pushed the Valley into worst turmoil of decades.

In the past it is mainly the NC which has been at the receiving end of the rage. Hundreds of its members, including senior leaders, former and sitting ministers and legislators were killed by militants or fell prey to “invisible” gun during the 27 years of insurgency in the state.

In the backdrop of this alarming situation and potential danger Mr Abdullah has only tried to save his party cadres from becoming a major target as did happen with the NC during the heyday of militancy. “No doubt, being in Opposition the NC and its leadership would like to seize every opportunity that comes its way to run down the ruling PDP-BJP combine, particularly political bête noire Ms Mehbooba, but Mr Abdullah is a seasoned politician whose every statement may not be quality statement but most are based on ground realities,” said analyst Tassaduq Hussain.

Tags: farooq abdullah, yasin malik, syed ali shah geelani, hurriyat conference
Location: India, Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar