JAMMU: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah claimed thatMuhammad Ali Jinnah didn’t want a separate country for Muslims, buthappened due to Indian leaders’ refusal to accept minority status forMuslims and Sikh in the country, ANI has reported.
“Jinnah was not going to divide the country. The commission was deliveredand the decision was taken that India would be divided. It said we willkeep a special representation for Muslims. We will keep specialdispensation for minorities and Sikh, but will not let the nation divide,”he said during a function at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here.
Abdullah further said it was political leaders Jawaharlal Nehru, MaulanaAzad and Sardar Patel refusal to the commission that led to Jinaah’s demandfor Pakistan.
“Jinnah agreed but Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad and Sardar Patel did notagree. When this did not happen it was then that Jinnah demanded forPakistan. Or else there would have been no separation. There would havebeen no Bangladesh, no Pakistan; there would have been one India,” Abdullahsaid.
The National Conference (NC) patron also decried the misuse of religion forpolitical and electoral gains. Elaborating on the attempts by divisiveforces in the state with an eye on ensuing elections, Abdullah said Jammuand Kashmir has to flourish and progress as a single entity.
Responding to NC patron’s comment on Pakistan creation, Union minister ofstate for personnel and public grievances Jitendra Singh on Sunday urgedAbdullah to “reread history.”
Singh also pointed out that “Mahatma Gandhi himself had suggested to Jinnahthat if he agrees to withdraw demand of Pakistan’s creation,Gandhi wouldpersuade Congress to accept Jinnah as prime minister of undivided India.”