J&K scene grave, says Farooq Abdullah

Farooq Abdullah said the prospect of a division of the state on the Amarnath issue is dangerous for the country.

Terming the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir as “grave”, National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said the prospect of a division of the state on the Amarnath issue is dangerous for the country.

“Jammu and Kashmir is one state and unless it remains one, the danger is to the entire country,” said.

“I think there has been regional divide for a long time. People have been raising their voices to separate. There are people who want the state to be separated…the recent unfortunate happenings on the issue of Amarnath shrine board has triggered out of basic problem,” Abdullah told NDTV.

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But he was hopeful of a solution. “There is nothing that cannot be solved through dialogue but the issue should not be politicised. Let people from both the sides talk,” he said.

“My feeling is that we have to dampen the fire rather than raising it. I would sacrifice myself anytime rather than see innocent people being sacrificed.” Terming the Amarnath row as “unfortunate”, he said that the shrine board should be made up of locals but should also have people from outside.

“The Board was made for better management of yatra and is governed by good people…the bigger complaint is that all them should be local but I believe majority should be locals but you should have people from outside also…” Raising questions on BJP’s role, the former chief minister said “Its role is totally one sided. Why is it having a three-day agitation in the country when one place is burning? Are they going to burn other parts too?”