Farooq Abdullah warns against flaring up regional passions in Jammu and Kashmir

JAMMU: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah today cautioned PDP-BJP combine against inciting regional passions, saying Jammu and Kashmir has to grow and flourish as a single entity and any attempt to trample this peculiar character would be fought tooth and nail.

"By engineering regional divide, the coalition cannot divert the attention of people from governance failure," Abdullah said while addressing gatherings enroute Rajouri.

Accompanied by NC's provincial president Devender Singh Rana, he interacted with people at Sunderbani, Lambedi, Nowshehra, Narian, Chingus, Moradpur and Badoon during the first leg of his four-day tour to Rajouri and Poonch.

Abdullah also participated in the Urs of Sain Lal Din Mundrian Walla at Kotranka.

"Governance deficit and hollow promises made by PDP and BJP were leading to discontent and unrest in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with people suffering on all fronts," he said.

Referring to the ongoing agitation in Jammu on the AIIMS issue, Abdullah said instead of seeking a resolution by prevailing on the Centre to announce another full-fledged facility, the state government and the BJP in particular has adopted a "confrontational attitude".

"This is not a solution to the problem," he said.

"In a similarly placed situation on the issue of central university, the NC-led government had ensured that both the regions get two separate varsities," he added.

Since the state government has failed in finding a solution, there is need for an all-party delegation to go to Delhi and urge the Centre to take a call on immediate basis, he added.

Expressing concern over problems being faced by residents in the wake of continued bandh in Jammu over the AIIMS issue, Abdullah said he hoped the government will realise its responsibility and take appropriate measures.

Stating that public anger cannot be doused by diversionary tactics or indulging in rhetoric, the NC president said, "It cannot be averted by bringing the people of different regions and communities on eyeball to eyeball situation, as is being attempted."

He added that divisive politics is not in the interest of the state or the nation.

He reiterated his party's support for a separate AIIMS in Jammu, saying health for all is a basic right. "There is immense need for creating adequate infrastructural facilities in this key sector in all the three regions," he said.