After fearmongering over Article 35A, Omar Abdullah equates security forces with terrorists

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah courted controversy for the second day in a row on Tuesday as in a Twitter comment on the Prime Minister's Independence Day speech, he drew a clear and deliberate parallel between terrorists in Kashmir and the Indian security forces. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah courted controversy for the second day in a row on Tuesday as in a Twitter comment on the Prime Minister's Independence Day speech, he drew a clear and deliberate parallel between terrorists in Kashmir and the Indian security forces.

Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi had offered his analysis of the situation in India's northern-most state and had opined that normalcy won't be restored by the use of abuses (gaalis) or bullets (golis) but only by embracing every Kashmiri as a citizen of India.

Taking exception to the PM's words, Abdullah tweeted: "Actually he said the Kashmir issue will not be resolved by abuse & bullets. I guess that covers both sides - terrorists & security forces."

Omar Abdullah's tweet came in response to a news article carrying the caption "The Kashmir Issue will not be resolved by terrorism". The attempt to malign the security forces was entirely his own. 

Just a day earlier, Abdullah had delivered a fiery speech triggered by the Supreme Court hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A which prohibits non-residents of Jammu and Kashmir from buying property in the state and guarantees employment and education reservations for J&K residents. The speech was peppered with instances of non-fact fearmongering, laying bare Abdullah's wish to not see the state being fully integrated with the rest of India.