Farooq Abdullah, a prominent leader of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC), responded to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement regarding the potential merger of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) with India. Abdullah emphasized that Pakistan was not passive and highlighted its possession of atomic weapons, suggesting potential consequences if tensions escalated.
In his remarks, Abdullah stated, "If the defense minister is saying it, then go ahead. Who are we to stop? But remember, they (Pakistan) are also not wearing bangles. It has atom bombs, and unfortunately, that atom bomb will fall on us."
These comments sparked controversy, with members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies accusing Abdullah of echoing Pakistan's stance.
Sudhanshu Trivedi, a BJP leader, criticized Abdullah's remarks, suggesting that leaders of the "INDIA bloc" were influenced by Pakistan. He referenced a range of statements made by political figures, including former Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhary and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, to support his argument. Trivedi claimed that Abdullah's comments aligned with Pakistan's language and accused him of adopting Pakistan's stance.
Trivedi's remarks underscore the political sensitivity surrounding discussions about Kashmir and India-Pakistan relations, with each side closely scrutinizing statements made by political leaders.
