Farooq Abdullah, the National Conference’s chief, stood on the dais in Baramulla, a northern town that has long been a flashpoint in the Kashmir dispute. He warned that Pakistan has been "protecting" Kashmiris, citing "international pressure" that keeps Delhi silent on alleged demolitions of mosques and homes. He invoked a 50‑crore‑rupee road‑building grant that allegedly went to waste, claiming the government had misused the funds to cripple local infrastructure.
RP Singh, present at the same convention, fired back immediately. He urged Abdullah to "look across the border" and pointed to the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, claiming it had brought "complete integration" to Jammu and Kashmir. Singh said the protection narrative was a "political ploy" and insisted that "Kashmir is thriving" under the central government’s policies.
Congress leader Raashid Alvi, also in attendance, agreed with Abdullah’s critique of the BJP but rejected the idea that Pakistan is a protector. He accused the ruling party of "working against the Muslim community" nationwide, citing protests in Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir as evidence. Alvi warned that such rhetoric could deepen communal divides.
The clash comes as the region grapples with the fallout of Article 370’s revocation, which has reshaped political, economic and security dynamics in Kashmir. Local residents, such as shopkeeper Omar Khan, say that the demolitions have hit their livelihoods, as family‑owned shops along the main street were bulldozed last year. Both parties now face pressure from the public to clarify their positions before the next state assembly elections.