National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah, on Thursday, alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ‘spreading hatred in Uttar Pradesh’ and making false claims regarding peace in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. Speaking to reporters in Jammu, Abdullah also questioned what was the outcome of the Balakot strike.

“Balakot! Balakot! Did line (LoC) change? Did we get back any piece of land from Pakistan? The line is still there. We dropped our own aircraft there. What did we get? BJP came to power. They’re doing it today too. They’re spreading hatred to win UP,” Abdullah said.

India-Pakistan relation key to peace in the region: Abdullah

On Wednesday, Abdullah launched a scathing attack on the Centre and questioned the BJP over claims of restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Slamming the Centre over the targeted killings in the Valley, Abdullah said that the National Conference was never a pro-Pakistan party and claimed that it has always worked for the betterment of the people of J&K irrespective of their caste and religion.

“They (BJP) used to say after the abrogation of Article 370 (in August 2019) that they have restored peace in J&K, Where is the promised peace and development? Give answers to the people… They are talking about ‘Ram Rajya’ but the fact is that they do not know anything about it. In ‘Ram Rajya’, there is no discrimination and all the people whether Muslims, Hindus, Sikh or Christians are treated equally,” Abdullah said.

The veteran NC leader further asserted that the relation between India and Pakistan holds the key to peace in the region. He was addressing NC workers in the Ramban area of J&K.