Kashmiris killed, ‘branded as Pakistanis’: Farooq

Srinagar, Jan 19: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) president, Farooq Abdullah Saturday said Kashmiris “were being killed and branded as Pakistanis and traitors”, ANI reported.
The report quoted Abdullah, while addressing the TMC-led opposition rally, as having said that people are being killed everywhere in Kashmir and are being dubbed as “Pakistani” and “anti-nationalist”.
Accusing the BJP of playing communal politics, Abdullah stated that although he is a Muslim, he identifies himself as an Indian first.
He said opposition leaders must not give thought to their individual prospects of becoming the next Prime Minister, rather fight collectively against the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Abdullah said: “The leaders must not think about their chances of becoming the prime Minister, which will be decided afterwards. As of now we all should collectively concentrate on fighting the elections together so as to defeat the BJP and save democracy and the nation.”
“Though I am a Muslim but part of Bharat and Hindustan. Every Kashmiri wants to live with this country,” ANI quoted Abdullah as having said.
Farooq, during his speech, called the EVM the “chor machine” and demanded that the ballot paper system be brought back for the sake of transparency.
“The EVM is chor machine. Honestly speaking, it is so. Its use must be put to an end. Nowhere in the world is the machine used. The opposition parties should approach the Election Commission and the President of India to stop the use of the EVM and bring back the old ballot papers for the sake of transparency,” he said.
Continuing his tirade against the BJP, he said it stood for the Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament but did not pass the Women’s Reservation Bill.