Dadri killing: Farooq Abdullah says secularism been 'killed', asks Centre to respect all faiths

Srinagar: Amid outcry over lynching of a man in Dadri over rumours of consuming beef, former Union Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday regretted that secularism has been "killed" in the country, as he appealed to the Centre to respect all religions in order to save the nation.

"I regret that in India, which was known as a secular country, secularism has been killed. It is the biggest regret. The constitution of India gives a right to everybody to preach his or her religion and it does not allow anyone to attack any religion," Abdullah told reporters here.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said people from all religions had "lived comfortably in the country that is why India has been saved till now".

"But since the atmosphere of RSS has been created, the animosity is increasing. God forbid, something should not happen which endangers India. Those in power in Delhi should think about whether they want an organised and good India or an India where there will be riots every day.

"I appeal them that if they have to save secular India, then they should respect all religions and try to understand these religions," he said.

Asked about Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta's assertion that he was "a proud RSS man", Abdullah, president of opposition National Conference (NC), said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed should answer what he has got by allying with the BJP.

"Ask Mufti sahib. He is the one who has given him the chair. You ask him that he used to make promises that he will not ally with the BJP, but he is now sitting with them. What has he got? He dug out a mountain but discovered only a mouse. God forbid, we fear he may divide the state," Abdullah said.