Why are our shrines, Masjids being targeted, asks J&K CM Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that Muslims were being victimised and their masjids and shrines targeted under a well-planned conspiracy, despite the country being secular as per the Constitution.

Abdullah told reporters here on the sidelines of the annual day of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar that if someone doesn't believe that this country is secular let them remove the word 'secular' through an Act in Parliament. Abdullah said Muslim victimisation is happening in the name of "not appeasing the community".

"Why are our darasgahs and masjids being targeted under a well-thought conspiracy? I have repeated it several times that you may believe in not appeasing the Muslim community. We also don't ask for any appeasement. But not appeasing us (Muslims) doesn't mean you will target us. Don't target and victimise us in the name of not appeasing us," said Abdullah.


The J&K CM, who recently performed the holy pilgrimage of Umrah in Mecca and Madina, said that people of every religion and even those who didn't believe in any religion have the right to live in this country freely as the Constitution has a word secular in it.

"By going after our mosques, shrines and the way of practising our religions, you are victimising us and this is not the India J&K was part of or the India that our founding fathers envisaged," said Abdullah. "This is the India that has the word 'secular' in its Constitution. Till the time it is there, it will keep it (the country) secular. If you don't want that, get it (secular) removed through Parliament."

'Battle' for J&K statehood

The J&K CM said his government is striving for the 'bigger battle' of restoration of statehood, which was promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

"We hope that the PM fulfils the promise made to the people of J&K...during Parliament as well as assembly elections," said Abdullah. He said people participated in these elections enthusiastically and made these elections successful with the hope that the promises made to them, especially the restoration of statehood, will be fulfilled. "PM and HM were busy in Maharashtra and Jharkhand and now we will talk to them so that the statehood of J&K is restored as soon as possible."