Be tough with Maoists, Farooq tells Nitish

Former J&K CM and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Resources, Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday advised Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to take a tough line with the Maoists. Abdullah, whose tenure as CM witnessed the release of a number of jailed terrorists in exchange for hostages, asked Kumar not to give in to Maoist threats.

Talking to a group of media persons during a function organised by Jammu Kashmir Cricket Association here on Saturday, he said, “We made mistakes in Kashmir. The first mistake was committed when we released five terrorists during the V P Singh government’s tenure. The next mistake was when we gave into terrorists’ pressure and released them in Kandahar,” he added. “I hope Nitish will not make that mistake, otherwise terrorists will continue to dictate,” Farooq said. “India should appear to be a strong nation,” he said, adding, “You should fight them and you fight them hard. Otherwise, you will appear to be a soft state. However, the choice is for Nitish to make”.

Ads by Google Tata Orissa Steel Project Together for Growth & Prosperity A Promise to New Orissa.Kalinganagar.tatasteLuxury Villas Hyderabad Your Perfect Haven at Pocharam. Villas @ Rs.23.95 Lakhs. Book Now!ArthaHaven.com/HyderMake Delhi trip memorable Book Hotel, Cab online at Best Fare Get updated info about Delhi. VisitNewDelhiAirport.in/D

He also expressed concern over the situation in Kashmir, saying that the government made some mistakes in dealing with stone pelters. “The police and CRPF are not trained to deal with such situations,” he said, adding that if they had been equipped with certain special gadgets or equipments, it would not have resulted in casualties. “However, we will have to train forces and we have to do it soon,” he added.