‘North feels fear, South instils hope’: Farooq Abdullah makes emotional appeal for unity against ‘fascist forces’

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) warned that India is facing a major crisis marked by rising fascism, centralisation of power, erosion of truth in public discourse and growing communal divisions, as he called for unity to defend secularism and democracy.

Addressing a seminar on ‘Secularism, Democracy and Consultative Government’ at the conclusion of the three-day ‘Vision 2031: An International Conference on Development and Democracy’ in Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. Abdullah praised Kerala for upholding religious harmony and inclusive development by “respecting every religion and every human being” and for achieving near-elimination of poverty despite the purported constraints from the Centre.

He expressed concern over the alleged weakening of India’s federal structure. “This is supposed to be a federal country where States have their powers and the Centre has its powers. But today the Centre controls everything, even stepping into areas meant for States,” he said.

Referring to the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir and the abrogation of Article 370, the National Conference leader questioned the claim that the provision was the root cause of terrorism. “Has terrorism disappeared?” he asked, citing attacks such as those that occurred in Pulwama.

Dr. Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir’s conversion into a Union Territory has reduced the powers of its elected Assembly. Key decisions remained pending approval from the Lieutenant Governor.

In an emotional appeal, the 88-year-old leader said people in the North continued to suffer discrimination and fear. “Majority of Hindus are not communal, but fear has driven us to the corner. We derive strength from you, the South. We look at you and pray for the day when we can also walk freely, talk freely and think freely,” he lamented.

Farooq Abdullah on India-U.S. trade deal

He also expressed deep concern over the implications of the United States (U.S.)-India trade deal. While the specifics of the deal still remains ambiguous, the agreement has created anxiety among agricultural producers and economically weaker states, the National Conference president said.

“We are frightened. We don’t have oil. We don’t have gas. We have the natural beauty that God has given us. We are horticultural producers. What will happen to our apples, our walnuts, our almonds,” he asked.

He also warned that the agreement might affect states such as Himachal Pradesh and other regions dependent on agriculture and horticulture, with small producers becoming vulnerable if trade terms are unfavourable to them.

He also criticised the global pressure exerted from Washington on countries to stop purchasing Russian oil, saying such dictates undermine sovereign decision-making. “The U.S. are dictating that you will not buy Russian oil, and that we will give you what we want to give you and you have to take it. India must carefully safeguard its economic interests,” he pointed out.

In a broader reflection on India’s political trajectory, Dr. Abdullah defended the legacy of leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, while crediting him with laying the foundation for major national institutions including ISRO, IITs, IIMs and other scientific establishments. He also lamented the stagnation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as he recalled that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had envisioned it as a platform for neighbouring countries to jointly resolve their problems.