Janata Dal (United) National General Secretary Shyam Rajak on Monday, 26 October sharply criticised National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah over his recent remarks on Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that Pakistan had always harboured malicious intentions towards the region and that Kashmiris had never sought to be part of Pakistan.

What Rajak Said

Speaking to reporters, Rajak invoked the legacy of Abdullah's own father, Sheikh Abdullah, who had worked alongside Maharaja Hari Singh to facilitate Kashmir's accession to India at a time when Pakistan was, according to Rajak, attempting to destabilise the region through terror.

'Perhaps he does not remember the values taught by his father. Sheikh Abdullah Ji, at a time when Pakistan was trying to trouble Kashmir and spread terror, worked alongside Maharaja Hari Singh to facilitate Kashmir's accession to India,' Rajak said.

He further stressed that Kashmir was an integral part of India and warned that any attempt to view the region with malicious intent would face strong public backlash. 'Pakistan has always had an evil eye on Kashmir. Kashmiris were never with Pakistan. Since childhood, we have been taught that Kashmir is the crown of India,' he added.

The Remarks That Triggered the Row

The controversy erupted after Farooq Abdullah addressed a party workers' convention in Baramulla, north Kashmir, on Saturday, claiming that Pakistan was effectively 'protecting' the people of Jammu and Kashmir by repeatedly raising the Kashmir issue at international forums.

'Our neighbour (Pakistan) is constantly after them. He (Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif) goes everywhere saying that the Kashmir issue has not been resolved. He is protecting us; otherwise, their (Centre's) intentions are not good,' Abdullah had said at the event.

The remarks drew swift and broad condemnation. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Abdullah of making statements against national interests and suggested he should leave for Pakistan.

Pappu Yadav Attacks BJP and RSS

Purnia MP Pappu Yadav also weighed in, though from a different angle — accusing the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of deliberately making Kashmir a controversial political issue.

'Making issues like Kashmir controversial is in the nature of the BJP and RSS. Kashmir is in our lives, our culture, our blood and our minds. The people of Kashmir are part of India's identity. They chose India over Pakistan,' Yadav said.

Yadav argued that Kashmir's integration with India was rooted in cultural bonds, the people's respect for the Constitution, and long-standing Indian traditions — not merely political decisions.

Political Context and What It Signals

The episode comes at a politically charged moment for Jammu and Kashmir, following the restoration of an elected government in the Union Territory after years of President's Rule. Abdullah's NC recently returned to power, making his remarks all the more scrutinised by rival parties.

This is not the first time Abdullah's statements on Pakistan and Kashmir have ignited political controversy; critics argue a pattern of such remarks has repeatedly put the NC on the defensive. The BJP's response — calling for Abdullah to 'go to Pakistan' — reflects the broader national political temperature around any perceived softening on the Kashmir question.

How the NC leadership manages the fallout, and whether Abdullah issues a clarification, will be closely watched in the days ahead.