Violence in West Bengal direct fallout of growing Hindu-Muslim divide: Farooq

Asserting that the communal hatred is weakening the country, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the recent violence in West Bengal was the direct fallout of the growing Hindu-Muslim divide in the country.

However, the former chief minister urged people to come together and demonstrate unity as “the threat is not from Pakistan or China but within the country from those who are spreading hatred in the name of religion”.

Abdullah was speaking to reporters after addressing a public meeting organised by his party to welcome retired senior superintendent of police Mohan Lal Kaith in the party fold at the border constituency of Marh near Jammu.

Kaith, who unsuccessfully contested the last year’s Assembly elections from the seat after taking voluntary retirement, said he decided to join the ruling party after consulting his supporters, pledging to strengthen the party at the grass-roots level.

In a veiled attack on the BJP, Abdullah said the violence witnessed in West Bengal recently was the outcome of the “communal divide spread across the country”.

“The anti-Muslim rhetoric and running of bulldozers on the houses, mosques and schools of the community pushed them to the edge. The government cannot prove the legality of their action, which was finally banned by the Supreme Court,” Abdullah said, adding the country does not have separate laws for Hindus and Muslims.

Asked about some BJP leaders raising questions over the Supreme Court after its directions on the Waqf Amendment Act, the NC leader said the four pillars of democracy – legislature, executive, judiciary and the media – keep democracy alive in the country. “If some wrong law is introduced, it can be challenged in the SC, and accordingly it comes out with its judgment,” he said, advising such leaders to desist from speaking against the SC.

He said the Waqf issue is sub-judice and everyone should wait till the final verdict of the court, which has raised some important questions.