‘If we are together, we will be able to overcome hatred of the
present day'
Yogesh
Jammu Tawi, Jan 19 : As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led
Bharat Jodo Yatra enters Jammu and Kashmir for its culmination
on January 30, former Chief Minister and MP Farooq Abdullah
Thursday said that the country is passing through turbulent times
and “if we are together, we will be able to overcome the hatred of
the present day.” He was quick to add that he wanted to see
Ghandi's India before his death.
Welcoming Rahul Gandhi at Jammu's entry gate, Lakhanpur
Kathua, a visibly emotional Abdullah, said: “We congratulate you
from the core of my heart for your selfless effort to unite India.”
Drawing a parallel between the Shankaracharya (religious title
used for head of Mathas in Hinduism) and Rahul Gandhi,
Abdullah said, “After many decades Rahul followed the footsteps
of Shankaracharya, who led the March from Kanyakumari to
Kashmir with an aim to unite India,” he said, adding, “No religion
is bad but intention is of some people are bad, who keep trying to
create a divide.”
He said that today's India is not that of Ram's Bharat or Gandhi's
Hindustan because people are “divided on religious lines.”
Appealing the people to remain united, Abdullah said: “If we are
together, we will be able to overcome the hatred of the present
day. I'm sure that Rahul Gandhi will not rest until he unites the
India”.
Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accompanied by senior
leaders of Punjab unit walked into Jammu and Kashmir as part of
the final phase of his Bharat Jodo Yatra that will end on January
30 in Srinagar.
As the sun set and temperatures dipped, hundreds of people
walked alongside the former Congress president. In a customary
handover function, Punjab's Congress unit chief Amrinder Singh
Raja Warring gave the party flag to Viqar Rasool Wani, Jammu
Kashmir Congress Chief.
