Advocating stern action against any kind of terrorism, Union minister and National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah today expressed hope that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar will not make any mistake in handling the current hostage crisis in the state.
"Never give in to the threats by anyone", the Union minister for new and renewable energy told reporters in reply to a question on the sidelines of a function in Jammu.
"We made a mistake by releasing five terrorists in Kashmir during VP Singh's regime and later repeated it during the Kandahar episode. I hope Nitish Kumar will not make that mistake," he said referring to the four policemen held hostage recently by Maoists demanding the release of their cadre in Bihar.
"India should appear strong, otherwise the terrorists would continue to dictate. Either you fight them and fight them hard, otherwise you will appear to be a soft state," Abdullah said on the sidelines of a function at a government college here to lay the foundation stone of sports infrastructure facilities.
To a query about Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani daring him to address people at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the former J&K chief minister said, "I do not take his threats or recognise Geelani. Who is Geelani and what is his status?"
Reacting to reports about a set of formulae proposed by some organisations to resolve Kashmir issue, the NC chief said those who want a plebiscite, should do it first in POK.
On reports about Chinese presence in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), Abdullah said India is not week and can face any challenge anywhere.
On the present turmoil in the Valley, the NC leader admitted that the state government committed some mistakes as police and CRPF were not equipped to deal with stone pelters.
Had they been properly equipped, it would not have led to the casualties, he said, adding he felt sad about the killing of over sixty children in the current bout of violence in the Valley.
