Lynchings: Baig warns of another Partition, stirs row

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 28

A political row has erupted after PDP MP Muzaffar Baig threatened of another partition if the lynching violence against Muslims was not stopped.

“Today, if someone walks with a buffalo, he is caught and killed. From this stage, we appeal to the Prime Minister to stop the killings of Muslims in the name of cow. India once broke into two and it can happen again if the tyranny against Muslims does not stop,” Baig said while addressing a function in Srinagar on the foundation day of the party.

Baig said their party joined hands with the BJP so that they trusted Muslims. “Our party had joined hands with the BJP so that it trusts Muslims and there can be justice with them,” he said.

The statement of MP from Baramulla, who is also the co-founder of the PDP, sparked a row with the BJP terming it unfortunate.

“How unfortunate that an MP and former Deputy CM of J&K Muzaffar Baig of @jkpdp joins the ‘tukde tukde gang’ for vote-bank politics, threatening India of 1947 situation. Muslim appeasement at its peak! Nobody should dare to talk about breaking the country. It will not be allowed.@BJP4JnK,” BJP spokesperson and former minister in J&K Priya Sethi tweeted. National Conference leader Junaid Mattoo termed Baig’s assertions as a “blackmail”. “Muzaffar Baig’s blackmail has nothing to do with Kashmiris or Muslims. This is between the PDP and your party Priya ji. Don’t drag Muslims or Kashmiris into it,” Mattoo reacted on Twitter to Sethi.

Today, if someone walks with a buffalo, he is caught and killed. From this stage, we appeal to the Prime Minister to stop the killings of Muslims in the name of cow. India once broke into two and it can happen again if the tyranny against Muslims does not stop. — Muzaffar Baig, PDP MP