Display of ISIS, Pak flags is expression of ’anger’: Abdullah

 

Srinagar, 25 Jul 2015: With ISIS and Pakistani flags being repeatedly displayed in Kashmir, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah today said it was an expression of "anger" and "frustration" by the youth who want to "wake up the nation".

 

The former Chief Minister said "none of us has bothered about them" and there is no way for them to express themselves other than displaying such flags.

 

"It is actually the frustration and anger in the youth. Nothing is being done for them. They can’t show their anger by any other method except by putting these flags up," Abdullah told reporters here when asked about the frequent hoisting of ISIS and other controversial flags during protests in Kashmir.

 

"They (youth) want to wake up the nation that ’think of us’. None of us has bothered about them. That is the tragedy of it," said the NC chief whose party was in power in the state from 2009 to the last year-end.

 

Necessary measures need to be taken to "get these boys back into the national mainstream", he said, adding, "You have to look at what is pinching them."

 

At the same time, he said that borders between India and Pakistan can never be changed as referred to a series of grenade attacks carried out by militants in Srinagar today.

 

"They (militants) are attacking towers. What is attacking a tower going to do? Do you think that will change anything. I am absolutely clear the border will never change, whatever you may do. The border is not going to change," Abdullah said after a meeting of his faction of the state’s Cricket Association.

 

Invoking former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he advocated friendly relations with Pakistan.

 

"What must be done is friendship between the two countries. It is essential for survival of Kashmir and when I say Kashmir, it means Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

 

"I remember Vajpayeeji’s words that friends can be changed but neighbours cannot be. Either we can have friendly relations with the neighbours or destruction is around the corner. They (Pakistan) should also understand this that the Muslims across the world today are facing destruction. Who is responsible for it," he said.