Farooq Abdullah Defends Stone Pelters, Says They Are Fighting For The Nation

National Conference (NC) president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah today (5 April) said that those who pelt stones are just fighting for the nation and have nothing to do with tourism.

“Our fight is against those people who want to divide us on the basis of religion. I want to tell Modi saheb that tourism is our life, no doubt about that, but a stone pelter has nothing to do with tourism. They (stone pelters) will risk starvation, but will throw stones for the nation, that's what we need to understand,” he told the party workers in Srinagar.

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat had taken a strong view in February when he said anyone found obstructing the armed forces during anti-insurgency operations and opposed to them would be treated as “overground workers” of terrorists.

Rawat’s words were put into action about a week ago when the Indian Army fired retaliatory shots at those who were obstructing them. Crowds had begun pelting stones at the army during the encounter, resulting in injuries to 23 soldiers, with one sustaining serious injuries.

Days after Rawat’s statement, the NC president had then glorified terrorists, saying those taking to militancy in Kashmir were sacrificing their lives for the freedom of the nation. And now he is choosing to take the side of those who create situations which threaten the lives of troops engaged in crucial counter-insurgency operations.

Abdullah has also said that if India and Pakistan cannot resolve their issues, then the United States should come forward and facilitate the resolution between the two countries as a third party.

With Inputs From ANI.