Muslims should not have to prove their patriotism: Farooq Abdullah

NEW DELHI — National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said Muslims should not be repeatedly required to prove their patriotism, asserting that the community had made sacrifices for India and remained committed to the country's unity and integrity.

Addressing a gathering at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi in the presence of senior opposition leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Abdullah criticised the BJP and RSS over what he described as repeated questioning of Muslim loyalty to the country.

“These people always point fingers at Muslims and call them Pakistanis. I want to tell the BJP and RSS that we have given our blood for this country. We gave our blood yesterday, we are giving it today and we will give it tomorrow as well,” Abdullah said.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said Muslims wanted to live in India and contribute to its progress, rejecting attempts to question their patriotism on religious grounds.

“We want to live in this country and strengthen this country,” he said.

Abdullah also criticised the Election Commission, alleging that the deletion of names from electoral rolls was undermining citizens' democratic rights.

Referring to remarks made by Akhilesh Yadav, he claimed that more than one crore Hindu voters had been removed from electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh and questioned whether they, too, would be labelled Pakistanis.

“You have removed more than one crore Hindus from the voting lists in Uttar Pradesh. Are they also Pakistanis?” Abdullah asked.

The allegation about voter deletions was made by Abdullah during his address and could not be independently verified.

Calling for people of different religious communities to stand together, Abdullah said Indians should resist attempts to divide society and undermine constitutional rights.

“Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis are all Indians. They will live as Indians and die as Indians,” he said.

Invoking B R Ambedkar, Abdullah said the Constitution guaranteed equal rights to every citizen, including the right to vote.

“This is Ambedkar's Constitution. This is India's Constitution. We are all equal under it, and every one of us has an equal right to vote,” he said.

He urged opposition parties and citizens to collectively oppose any attempt to disenfranchise voters, asserting that power in a democracy ultimately rested with the people.

“The power is with the people. Use that power, strengthen it and tell those who are supporting them that they are on the wrong path,” Abdullah said.

He also asked people not to fear those in authority, saying governments and political leaders would change but citizens remained the ultimate source of democratic power.

Abdullah further called for inclusive development, saying India could not become strong and prosperous if any section of society was left behind.

“If you want to save India, everyone has to work together to take the country forward. If any section is left behind in development, India cannot become strong,” he said.

Reiterating Jammu and Kashmir's place within India, Abdullah said the region's status as part of the country would remain unchanged.

“Jammu and Kashmir was part of India before, it is part of India today and it will remain part of India tomorrow. Nobody can change that,” he said.

Abdullah concluded his address by raising slogans of “Jai Hind” and asking those present to join him in reaffirming their commitment to the country.

The article first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse at https://kashmirpulse.com/politics/muslims-should-not-have-to-prove-their-patriotism-farooq-abdullah/117144.html