Attack on Rashid: Farooq says India's image being tarnished

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief  minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday condemned the ink attack on independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid saying those behind the attack have tarnished the image of country before the world.

"These people have tarnished the image of nation, not only in India but all across World," he told reporters here.

Abdullah, who is president of opposition National Conference, said Constitution of India guarantees freedom of speech for all its citizens.

"Constitution treats everyone with equality, provides freedom of speech, Engineer Rashid only wanted to put forth? his view," he said, adding that India was today feeling "threatened by such elements".

A press conference by Rashid in New Delhi turned into an event of hooliganism with a handful of activists allegedly belonging to a right-wing organisation blackening his face with paint, ink and mobil oil protesting against his hosting a beef party in Srinagar earlier this month.