Farooq Abdullah: India’s Secularism Will Never Die
Abdullah defends secularism amid India’s challenging times.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah declared that India’s secular fabric remains unbreakable despite current challenges, speaking at the launch of “The Lion of Naushera,” a book on Brigadier Mohammed Usman, the highest-ranking Indian Army officer killed in the 1948 Indo-Pakistani War. Authored by Ziya Us Salam and Anand Mishra, the book highlights Usman’s heroism and commitment to India.
Abdullah acknowledged a “difficult phase” in India, noting fear among Muslims due to suppressed communal tensions. “The larger society is not communal, but it is suppressed,” he said, expressing confidence that India will overcome these challenges. “No one can finish our secularism,” he asserted, recalling his father Sheikh Abdullah’s choice to align Kashmir with Gandhi’s India over Jinnah’s Pakistan during Partition.
He recounted Jinnah’s failed attempt to sway Kashmir, emphasizing the unity of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs against Pakistani raiders in 1948. Abdullah criticized the current lack of autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir, calling the lieutenant governor a “viceroy” appointed by Delhi, and questioned the treatment of Kashmiris who chose India. “Where will the Pandits, Sikhs, and Buddhists go?” he asked, defending India’s inclusive identity against Pakistan’s.
Also Read: Kendrapara Tragedy: Honour Killing or Suicide? Death Mystery Deepens!
Former Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, a relative of Brigadier Usman, praised his sacrifice as a symbol of India’s unity, calling the book a “timely reminder” of those who defended the nation’s integrity. RJD MP Manoj Jha lauded Usman’s choice to stay in India, evoking nostalgia for a lost inclusive spirit. The event underscored Usman’s legacy as a beacon of secularism amid ongoing debates.
Also Read: Operation Akhal: Kulgam Clash Intensifies, 4 Soldiers Injured
