‘Nothing came out of Operation Sindoor’: Farooq Abdullah after Srinagar blast

Farooq Abdullah

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah triggered fresh controversy with two comments in a single day, reacting to the busting of a white collar terror module in Haryana and the recent blast at a Srinagar police station.

Abdullah said the police must look into why the arrested doctors had chosen “this path”. Calling for a deeper inquiry, he asked, “Ask those who are responsible, why did these doctors have to take this path? What was the reason? There is a need for a thorough investigation and study of this.”

He also expressed concern that incidents like Operation Sindoor could repeat in the current climate. “I hope no such thing will happen. Nothing came out of it. Eighteen of our people died. Our borders were compromised. I hope both nations improve their relations. That is the only way. I want to repeat what Vajpayee Ji said that friends can be changed, but neighbours cannot be changed,” he said. Analysts widely believe Pakistan betrayed former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with their move in Kargil.

Abdullah then criticised the handling of explosive material at Srinagar’s Nowgam police station, where nine people died on Friday night. “This is our mistake. Those who understand these explosives better should have spoken to them about how to deal with them, instead of trying to handle themselves,” he said. He added that Kashmiri citizens continue to face suspicion nationwide. “When will that day come when they will accept that we are Indians and we are not responsible for this?” he asked.

The BJP hit back sharply. Party leader Tarun Chugh accused Abdullah of being soft on terrorists. “Shedding tears for terrorists is their old habit. Farooq Abdullah should stop speaking for terrorists now,” Chugh said.

The Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat said the Nowgam blast took place during mandated forensic checks and urged restraint, calling the speculation unnecessary. The explosives at the centre of the accident were seized during raids on the Haryana module. One of the accused doctors, Umar Mohammad, had allegedly panicked during the police crackdown, loaded an i20 with explosives, and drove to Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, where a blast killed 13 people.