Don't forget the sacrifice of youth, who picked up gun for Azadi: Farooq

Srinagar, Feb 25: Urging people not to forget the sacrifices of youth, who were fighting for 'Azadi', former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today said Kashmiris picked up arms for a cause.

These youth have not picked up the guns to become Members of Legislative Assembly or Members of Parliament or Ministers, but to get their land, Dr Abdullah, President of the main Opposition National Conference (NC) said, while addressing the party workers, on the death anniversary of party General Secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, here. About the recent warning of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Bipin Rawat, Dr Abdullah said such statements only create more alienation among the people of Kashmir.

He urged people not to forget the sacrifices of youth (militants). "Our generation was deceived, but the fight for our rights has been on since 1931", he said, alleging that 1948 agreements and promises with the people of Kashmir were also not implemented. He said Kashmiri youth have picked up arms 'for a cause' and they cannot be intimidated with death threats, because they have handed themselves over to Allah's will. They are fighting for 'Azadi,' he said.

About people hitting the streets at encounter sites, the former Union minister said the people's anger was justified as the Jammu and Kashmir Government had formed an alliance with the 'communal' forces. He said during electioneering, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged people to vote for the party to keep the communal parties away from Jammu and Kashmir, but later joined hands with BJP to form a coalition government.