Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah strongly criticized the BJP, recalling incidents where “mosques were razed, madrassas were bull-dozed and innocent people were allegedly lynched for eating beef”.
Describing it as a “time for sacrifice,” the National Conference veteran urged those present to pray for the downfall of the BJP, which he accused of seeking to amend the Constitution.
“This is the time for sacrifice. Today, it is your test. Wake up. Pray to God. That the INDIA alliance should win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. May God cause his downfall (BJP) and the country will be saved. Pray for all those who are caught in a big storm. You must have seen how the mosques were knocked down. Madrassa were bulldozed,” Farooq, the former Union Minister, said while addressing a rally at Rawalpora in Srinagar on May 5.
“Innocent people were lynched for eating beef. Today, they (BJP) are saying, ‘We will tell you what to eat, how you will dress, and where you will go’. We will not accept it .We are free people,” he added.
He further asserted that everyone stands as equals before the Constitution of India.
“The Constitution of India is free. Everyone is equal, be it Hindu or anyone. So pray to God: ‘Those who are attempting to rewrite the Constitution should be humiliated’. Vote cautiously on that day. (Polling for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat is scheduled for May 13). Ask God to give you time to vote before he takes your life. I am asking God to take my life only when we will be out of this trouble. God should bless me with health. Give me courage. To take the country forward,” he added.
Jammu and Kashmir, with a total of 5 Lok Sabha seats encompassing Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag-Rajouri, Udhampur, and Jammu, is undergoing voting in five phases. These elections, part of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, are being conducted across seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The counting of votes and declaration of results are scheduled for June 4.