Farooq Abdullah courts controversy, pledges support to Hurriyat

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and the president of the National Conference Farooq Abdullah triggered a controversy today by asking the Hurriyat to unite for the cause of Kashmir and that his party was with them in it.

Abdullah was speaking at the occasion of 111th birth anniversary for his father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in Srinagar. "I ask these Hurriyat leaders to unite. We are standing by your side at this hour. Don't think of us as your adversaries. We are not your adversaries." He then went on to address his party workers saying, "Don't stay behind in this struggle of Kashmir".

He also told the Hurriyat leadership that as long as their path wasn't 'wrong' he was ready to move ahead with them. "We have struggled before and wasted our whole life on this (Kashmir issue). I am telling you from this sacred place: 'Move ahead, we are with you until you keep treading the right path. And until you can guide this nation on the right path."

Taking a dig at both India and Pakistan Dr Abdullah also said that these countries were out there to subjugate Kashmiris which isn't going to work. "One day they will have to resolve this. They think they can subjugate us. But they are wrong," Farooq Abdullah said.

The Valley has been under going a period of unrest for last more than 4 month after the death of Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen posterboy, in an encounter. Close to 100 people have died and more than 10000 have been injured. Though the situation has considerably calmed down but even now there are protests happening as separatists come out with weekly calendars. On Monday, the government foiled separatist proposed Lal Chowk march by detaining top leaders like Yasin Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while continuing the house arrest of Syed Ali Shah Geelani.