National Conference president and former Union Minister Farooq Abdullah Thursday lost his cool when he was repeatedly ‘quizzed’ by reporters as to why he was playing ‘soft separatism’ and encouraging stone pelters in Kashmir valley.
Claiming he was not playing ‘soft separatism’ Dr Abdullah snubbed reporters and walked out saying i don’t want to take more questions.
However, before leaving the venue of Baisakhi celebrations in Jammu, he also alleged that there are many stone pelters, who are probably paid by the Government to create such a situation so that people don’t come out and vote. He also demanded thorough investigations behind such incidents.
Reacting to the recent incident of heckling of CRPF jawans by a group of Kashmiri youth while they were returning from their poll duty, Farooq Abdullah told reporters in Jammu, “I think it is unfortunate, it is tragic and it should not have happened.”
Abdullah said, “I am grateful to that CRPF man who didn’t react. He kept his calm and that was very good, otherwise the situation would have probably become more nasty.”
However, when a reporter questioned him asking why you had been encouraging stone pelters and even calling them ‘true nationalists’ Dr Abdullah said, “let me tell you one thing. Every stone pelter is not like that, lets not generalise the situation. He said there are many stone pelters who are probably paid by Government to create such a situation so that people don’t come out and vote. You have to investigate such things.”
When asked why he was justifying stone pelters and playing with the sentiments of the whole nation, Dr Abdullah lost his cool. “What do you mean by the sentiment of the whole nation. Is the nation concerned about them, their future. Don’t you think they have some grievance or you are just worried about the nation.We have a Government for the last two years. Where is the Government today. When we left and I was defeated, the voter turnout was 29 per cent and now it is only 7 per cent. Who is to be blamed for this,” askedAbdullah.
Fuming Dr Abdullah walked out claiming, “I have never played soft separatism and don’t tell me that I am playing soft separatism. I don’t want to take any questions.”