Business Standard

Prove my father wrong by taking PoK back, Omar Abdullah challenges Centre

Farooq Abdullah made controversial remarks earlier this week saying PoK was part of Pakistan while J&K is part of India

Omar Abdullah

Farooq Abdullah

Press Trust of India Srinagar
A day after Farooq Abdullah's controversial remark on PoK, son Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Centre should prove his father wrong with "actions" by taking back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"I don't understand the 'if we try'. What is stopping you from getting it back? Prove Dr (Farooq) Abdullah wrong with your actions rather than with hollowed out words," Omar Abdullah tweeted.
The National Conference leader was reacting to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hans Raj Ahir's statement that no one can stop India from taking back PoK.

"I say Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir is a part of India and due to the mistakes of the previous governments, it has been with Pakistan. If we try to get PoK back, no one can stop us because it is our right," Ahir said on the sidelines of a function in Delhi.

Farooq Abdullah made controversial remarks earlier this week saying PoK was part of Pakistan while Jammu and Kashmir is part of India.

He said India and Pakistan may fight as many wars as they can but this cannot be changed.

Despite drawing flak, the National Conference president continued with his controversial remarks and while addressing a party function in Uri town of Baramulla district yesterday said that Pakistan was "not weak and not wearing bangles to allow India to take that part of Jammu and Kashmir under its occupation".

"How long shall we keep saying that (PoK) is our part? It (PoK) is not their father's share. That (PoK) is Pakistan and this (J-K) is India," he had said.

He said 70 years have "passed but they (India) could not get it (PoK)".

"Today, they (India) claim it is our part. So take it (PoK), we are also saying please take it (from Pakistan). We will also see. They (Pakistan) are not weak and are not wearing bangles. They too have atom bomb. Before we think about war, we should think how we will live as humans," Farooq Abdullah had said.

Hitting out at Ahir, Omar Abdullah asked if he included the decision of the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to respect the sanctity of Line of Control (LoC).

"And in 'previous governments' do you include Vajpayee Sb's decision to respect sanctity of LoC during the Kargil War as well?" he asked.

In an earlier tweet yesterday, Omar Abdullah, reacting to Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's remarks, said he wanted to know what successive Congress governments did since 1947 to get back PoK.

"That's excellent news. Perhaps Azad Sb may like to explain what successive Congress governments have done since 47 to get it back," he wrote.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Nov 16 2017 | 8:00 PM IST

Explore News