Modi cannot touch Article 370: Farooq Abdullah

"BJP's intentions towards the people of Jammu & Kashmir are very clear now, as their manifesto has proven beyond any doubt that Narendra Modi can never be a friend of J&K,"  said Abdullah addressing election rallies here with his son, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

 Farooq Abdullah said that the same people who played a role in the erosion of J&K's autonomy and facilitated the sabotage of democratically elected governments were now singing different tunes in different garbs. "There can be no compromise on the state's identity, despite the ink-pot brigade's covert tactical understanding with the BJP on this matter," said Abdullah.

Speaking on the occasion, Omar Abdullah said that the coming parliamentary elections were centered around the protection of the very ideals that form the bedrock of India's secularism and inclusivity.

Omar Abdullah said that Narendra Modi had repeatedly asserted that he has friends from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari and one couldn't help but wonder who Modi's friends in Kashmir could possibly be. "Today, we have our answer - Modi's friends in Kashmir are the leaders of the ink-pot brigade," said Omar Abdullah.

Omar Abdullah said that the National Conference and Congress alliance was our attestation of the fact that Rahul Gandhi was a young and sincere friend of the people of Jammu & Kashmir and a validation of our ideology of integrity and secularism.

"We see in Rahul Gandhi a leader who believes in inclusiveness, equitable growth and reconciliation with isolated sections of our society, unlike Narendra Modi who has revealed his tendency to communally and polarize this country for political power," said the chief minister.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)