Click to play videoAs protests related to Amarnath land row reached a boiling point, threatening to split the state along regional and communal lines, CNN-IBN caught up with National Conference leader and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah. Not one to mince his words, Abdullah warns protestors to end the agitation or face dire consequences.
Farooq Abdullah: It's been 40 days that this rift has been on, and then the Home Ministry, finally, der aaye durusat aaye (better late than never). At least they called an all-party meet, those delegations came and met people in Jammu. They said, 'we don't want to meet Kashmiri leaders', so we stayed out. We said, 'alright you talk to them'. Let them tell you their grievances.
CNN-IBN: But the grouse exists here in Kashmir.
Farooq Abdullah: It is not the question of a grouse. Today, the tragedy of it is that the divide between province of Kashmir and province of Jammu is much too wide. It was wide anyway. If you remember they always felt Sher-e-Kashmir came into power here, they kept on talking about alienation, praja parishad (public) agitation and all those agitations against the Government because they were from Kashmir.
CNN-IBN: Sir, you are a very active member of the all-party delegation, what are the solutions they are looking at?
Farooq Abdullah: I don't know what solutions they are looking at. The foremost thing is the agitation by the people in Jammu has to be called off. The communal hatred has to be brought to a halt. All over India, the communal hatred that is being spread by a particular party. If they want a secular India, they must stop it.
CNN-IBN: Do you think separatists are exploiting the situation?
Farooq Abdullah: It is not about separatists exploiting the situation. The point is, the Kashmiri psyche is also affected. If you block the road, if you block complete communication with the rest of the country, their goods cannot be transfered. What do you think Kashmiris will do? Sit down quietly and die?
CNN-IBN: And what is your solution sir? You have been in the scene for so many years?
Farooq Abdullah: My solution is, call off this agitation in Jammu. Secondly, all the agitations in the rest of the country, the BJP and the other parties should call them off. Otherwise be ready for what will follow this episode.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.