Union Minister Jitendra Singh today dubbed as "worrisome" NC chief Farooq Abdullah's defence of stone-pelters in Kashmir and accused him of getting tempted to speak the "language of separatists" for electoral gains.
Abdullah, who is contesting the bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, earlier today said that the stone-pelting youth from the valley were giving their lives for resolution of Kashmir dispute and not for tourism.
The former J&K chief minister's comments came in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's April 2 appeal that the state's "misguided" youth should choose tourism over terrorism.
"It is quite worrisome...A politician of the stature of Abdullah has also come under pressure of upcoming polls and therefore has felt tempted to speak the language of the separatists," Singh told reporters outside Parliament.
Referring to the 1994 Parliament resolution that Pakistan -occupied Kashmir (PoK) be liberated from the neighbouring country and be merged with India, Singh said Abdullah's party had supported the position.
The minister also said that Abdullah had stated on record several times that India should "bombard" terror training camps operating from Pakistani soil.
"It seems that just in a bid to woo a certain constituency, some of the Kashmir-centric campaigners have felt tempted to use the jargon of separatists," Singh added.
The minister further said Abdullah's remarks raise a "larger question" if one should succumb to expediency of electioneering "at the cost of consistency when it comes to nationalist views and beliefs".
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Meanwhile senior PDP leader and Works Minister Naeem Akhtar termed Abdullah's statement as political opportunism.
"This is nothing but political opportunism. Abdullah uses three types of radio stations. He uses FM for local consumption and Medium Wave when he wants to be heard up to Jammu," the minister said taking a dig.
Akhtar said Abdullah will "switch to the Short Wave mode if he wins the elections (Lok Sabha bypolls) so that he is heard across the country".
Asked about the National Conference charge against PDP on its ties with BJP, the minister said "Abdullah has allied with all political parties in the country including BJP.
