Farooq appeals people to unite against 'evil designs', braid-chopping

SRINAGAR: Main opposition National Conference's president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday asked the people of Jammu and Kashmir to rise above their differences and to be united to foil the "evil designs" against the state, while asserting that alleged braid-chopping incidents were a direct attack on the dignity and honour of women folk in state, stressing on to come to the fore hand-in-hand to expose the elements behind it.
The former chief minister made the remarks at the Charar-e-Sharief shrine where he had gone to pay obeisance at the tomb of Shiekh Nooruddin Noorani, the revered Kashmiri saint.
"People of the state are going through tough and trying times. It is, therefore, imperative for all of us to rise above our narrow needs and come together as a united force to quell the evil designs of those who are hatching conspiracies to harm J&K and its people," Abdullah told reporters in Budgam district.
Abdullah prayed for sustained peace, stability and development of the state and well being of the people.
He also interacted with devotees and inquired about the upkeep of the shrine before offering prayers.
Abdullah emphasised on the need for imbibing the teachings of the revered saint, saying "this spirit has to be maintained at all costs".
Reacting over unabated braid chopping incidents in Kashmir Valley, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah said that these conspiracies were hatched in past as well to suppress the true sentiments of people.
He appealed people to get united to expose the criminals indulging in such acts. "This is a conspiracy to suppress the sentiments of people of Kashmir. This conspiracy has been hatched to harass common people who have already witnessed hell in Valley," Farooq Abdullah said.
He said it is a direct attack on the dignity and honour of our sisters, daughters and mothers. "This is unacceptable to us and we ought to get united to expose the elements behind it," Farooq Abdullah said.