Farooq Abdullah’s Pakistan Remarks Draw Bjp’s Sedition Charge

WHO:

NDTV - Farooq Abdullah, president of the National Conference (NC) and a former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, made remarks about Kashmiris and Pakistan at an NC workers’ convention in Baramullah.

India Today - Abdullah said Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “goes everywhere” raising the unresolved Kashmir issue and said Pakistan was protecting Kashmiris.

NDTV - BJP leaders Ravinder Raina, RP Singh, Yamini Sharma and MLA Yudhvir Sethi criticised Abdullah’s remarks; Raina and Sethi said they amounted to sedition.

India Today - BJP Jammu and Kashmir unit chief Sat Sharma demanded that Abdullah publicly apologise and said he should settle in Pakistan if he continued making such statements.

India Today - Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Vinod Bansal said Kashmir was and would remain an integral part of India.

NDTV - J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kapil Singh said Abdullah’s remarks could be his personal view and that Pakistan had no right to interfere in India’s internal affairs.

NDTV - Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah’s son and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister since 2024, had not commented on his father’s remarks, according to the article.

WHAT:

NDTV - Farooq Abdullah said India’s intentions toward Kashmiris were not right and credited Pakistan’s international advocacy for helping Kashmiris’ voices be heard.

India Today - Abdullah questioned whether people in Jammu and Kashmir could expect justice from Delhi and urged them to defend their rights and identity, saying they could be “wiped out” and their identity could disappear.

NDTV - BJP figures called Abdullah’s comments “seditious,” “pro-Pakistan” and condemnable; some demanded a sedition case and an apology.

NDTV - RP Singh said two crore tourists visit Kashmir every year and attributed the region’s integration and economic performance to Article 370’s abrogation.

India Today - Abdullah also called for Muslims to unite against demolitions in BJP-ruled states, alleging Muslim homes, shops and places of worship were disproportionately targeted. The BJP and state governments said demolitions target illegal encroachments and unauthorised construction regardless of religion.

NDTV - A Congress leader said people in Jammu and Kashmir were angry over the statehood issue and urged the government to restore statehood.

WHERE:

NDTV - The remarks were made at a workers’ convention in Baramullah, Jammu and Kashmir.

India Today - The convention was in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.

WHY:

NDTV - India maintains Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and indivisible part of India and accuses Pakistan of promoting terrorism and unrest in the Union territory.

India Today - Pakistan has raised Kashmir, including Article 370’s abrogation, at forums including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation; the article said those efforts proved futile.

HOW:

India Today - The Centre abrogated Article 370 in August 2019 and subsequently reorganised the former state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 16:04 UTC)

Farooq Abdullah has drawn sharp criticism after accusing India of failing Kashmiris and praising Pakistan’s advocacy on their behalf. Speaking at a National Conference workers’ convention in Baramulla, the party president said Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raises the unresolved Kashmir issue internationally, helping Kashmiris’ voices be heard. Abdullah questioned whether people in Jammu and Kashmir could expect justice from Delhi and urged them to defend their rights and identity. BJP leaders called his remarks seditious and pro-Pakistan, with some demanding a sedition case and an apology. Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Sat Sharma said Abdullah should apologise publicly. A Congress leader said the comments might reflect Abdullah’s personal view, but Pakistan had no right to interfere in India’s internal affairs. Abdullah also alleged Muslim homes and religious sites were disproportionately targeted in demolitions; authorities say action targets illegal construction regardless of religion.