SRINAGAR: National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah stirred controversy on Tuesday with his statement outside Parliament, saying, “Jammu and Kashmir should go to hell.” This remark followed the Supreme Court’s recent validation of the 2019 revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state.
In a video, Abdullah said, “Jammu Kashmir should go to hell (Jammu Kashmir Jahannum Mai Jaye). What else should I say? You (central government) have taken the state there.”
The BJP responded sharply to the comment, with Shehzad Poonwalla criticising Abdullah’s comments and urging condemnation from the INDIA bloc.
Jammu Kashmir “jahannum me jaye”
“Jammu Kashmir can go to hell” says Farooq AbdullahAfter DMK demanding self determination now Farooq says this! Merely because SC upheld abrogation of 370 which has ended politics of parivarvaad and pathar baazi and pakistan parasti!
This is… pic.twitter.com/FSlz8iZyls
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) December 12, 2023
Amit Malviya, the BJP IT Cell head, also took a swipe at the Kashmir leader. In a separate video shared by news agency ANI, Abdullah reiterated his stance, questioning the lack of elections in the state and expressing doubt about the claimed elimination of terrorism.
He recalled telling the Prime Minister that there is a mutual lack of trust, stating, “You don’t trust us, and we don’t trust you.” Abdullah emphasised the need for the government to win hearts and questioned the reduction of distance as promised by the Prime Minister.
The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on Monday upheld the abrogation of Article 370, ordering assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September-end and the restoration of statehood “at the earliest.”
The five-judge bench delivered three concurring judgments supporting the abrogation that provided a unique status to Jammu and Kashmir since its accession to the Union of India in 1947.
