Jointly protect religious freedom: Farooq

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, May 29

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said the “secular visage” of the country was reeling “under the threat from the surge of communalism” and it needed collective efforts to protect the religious freedom and rule of law.

Farooq, while addressing various delegations and people who called on him to express their greetings on the massive win in the Lok Sabha election, said there had been an increase in the targeted attacks on the Muslims across North India. He described it as “painful”.

“The rise of the communalism in India has to be countered by all right-thinking secular parties of the country. The fascist syndrome of communal strife if allowed to grow unchecked will eventually munch the very secular fabric of our society, which otherwise has been known for tolerance,” he added.

He said the “strife of communal hatred” was one of the biggest challenges for the society. “It is for the new government to decide if they want to let the mammoth of communalism grow unhindered. The idea of development is impossible if 25 crore Muslims are not a part of that story of that development,” he said.