Full Breakdown
Farooq Abdullah’s Pakistan Remarks Spark BJP’s Sedition Outcry
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Remarks and Immediate Political Fallout
On October 24, 2026, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah addressed a party workers’ convention in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. He said Pakistan’s diplomatic campaigns were “protecting” Kashmiris and that the Indian government’s intentions toward the region were “not right.” The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) labelled the statements “seditious,” demanding a public apology and legal action.
Background & Context: Constitutional Changes and Statehood Demands
Abdullah’s comments came amid criticism of the Centre’s 2019 revocation of Article 370, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status and reorganised it into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The NC has repeatedly called for the restoration of full statehood, arguing that the current arrangement limits elected authority.
Official Statements & Responses
BJP leaders condemned the remarks. National spokesperson Kapil Singh argued that the region’s economic progress—citing roughly two crore tourists annually—stems from the post-abrogation integration with India. Congress representatives framed Abdullah’s comments as a personal view while emphasizing that India would not tolerate foreign interference.
Criticism & Opposition
Sat Sharma, BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir chief, urged Abdullah to “publicly apologise” and warned that repeating such views would not be “spared.” BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur called the comments “anti-national” and demanded legal action.
Data & Statistics
- Tourism: Roughly two crore tourists visit Jammu and Kashmir each year, a figure BJP attributes to the post-abrogation integration.
- Political Timeline: Article 370 was revoked in August 2019; statehood demands remain unresolved after the 2024 Assembly elections.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our neighbour (Pakistan) is constantly after them. He (Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif) goes everywhere saying that the Kashmir issue has not been resolved. He is protecting us; otherwise, their (Centre's) intentions are not good,” — Farooq Abdullah, NC president
- “His statement is highly condemnable, very unfortunate and comes under sedition charges. How can Pakistan, an enemy country, be the protector of the people of Kashmir? Pakistan is a murderer of the people of Kashmir. Pakistan kills innocent Kashmiris, children and women,” — Ravinder Raina, former BJP state chief
- “Kashmir is doing well here because Article 370 was abrogated and Kashmir was fully integrated with India. That's why two crore tourists visit Kashmir (every year). That's why Kashmir is doing economically well,” — Kapil Singh, BJP national spokesperson
- “The BJP will not tolerate such conduct. He should publicly apologise to the people of India. Otherwise, I would say that Pakistan would be a better place for him, and he should go and settle there,” — Yamini Sharma, BJP party unit chief