NEW DELHI - Days after sparking controversy with his statement that Azad Kashmir belongs to Pakistan former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday triggered a fresh row by commenting on hoisting of tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar.
The National Conference veteran leader has now dared the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk before talking about hoisting one in Azad Kashmir.
“They (Centre and BJP) are talking about raising flag in Azad Kahsmir. I ask them first you go and raise the tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. They can’t even do that here and they are talking about Azad Kashmir," he said.
Asked whether he was not hurting the Indian sentiment by making such comments, he retorted, asking "What is Indian sentiment? You think I am not an Indian?"
"Whose sentiments are you talking about? Those crooks who don’t see our miseries. Who don’t see the miseries of our border people? How they suffer when shelling starts?" he added.
Abdullah made these remarks while speaking to reporters after paying floral tributes to Congress leader and MP the late G L Dogra on his 30th death anniversary.