Country passing through 'bad phase' due to politics of polarisation, says Farooq Abdullah

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the country is passing through a "bad phase" due to politics of polarisation and hatred, and advised Muslims not to be disheartened as "this phase is bound to end soon".

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Addressing party functionaries and workers at Malikpur in Doda district on the third day of his week-long visit to the Chenab Valley, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said Muslims should be proud of being citizens of independent India.

The visit of the NC chief, who arrived in Kishtwar on Saturday, is aimed at engaging with the party's grassroots workers and ensuring robust preparations for the upcoming assembly elections.

"We are going through a bad phase... I have never seen any prime minister from Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh dividing the people on the basis of (their religion) Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians. They always treated all as citizens of India and the true owners of the country,” Abdullah said.