The OIC is lopsided in its views: Farooq

Union minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday reacted sharply to Organisation of Islamic Countries' terming Jammu and Kashmir as an "occupied" territory saying the OIC should first set its own house in order before worrying about others.

"Let them (OIC) first to set their own house in order rather than worry about others," Abdullah told mediapersons on the sidelines of a function in Jammu.

"OIC has no jurisdiction as far as we are concerned. Therefore, their views do not make any difference to us," he said adding, "All the members of OIC are not part of this game that is being played out. Do not worry about OIC."

Abdullah was replying to a volley of questions on OIC's invitation to Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and terming Jammu and Kashmir as "occupied" territory.     

"There are interested parties who want to create problems. But we know where we stand. India has the largest Muslim population in the world next to Indonesia. We are not members of that," the National Conference chief said.

"Why does OIC not worry about problems in Arab countries? What is happening in Libya? What is happening in Iraq? What is happening in Afghanistan, Palestine, Israel   and in Syria"? he said, adding, "I think they are lopsided in their views.

"They should think of Bahrain," he added.

Replying to questions about senior Bharatiya Janata Party L K Advani's remark that the Kashmir problem was a gift of Jawaharlal Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah  said said "they (BJP) are a communal organisation. India is not a communal country.

India is a secular country. People would keep writing about Nehru and Sheikh", he said.

"Nobody in India should forget that if J&K is part of India, it is thanks to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and NC. Otherwise, we would have become part of Pakistan and nobody could have stopped us", Farooq said.

"Advani is an old fellow like me thinking of old things. Advani should think of modern India rather than go back 60 years. They have committed multiple mistakes. I do not want  to open my mouth", he said.

"Let the BJP explain what was the army doing for 10 months (operation Parakaram) on the mountains. Did they move any gun? Did they do any shooting? They did not do  anything", he said adding "22 paid their lives (massacre by militants)

in Rajouri (J&K) when Atal Bihari Vajpayee (then prime Minister) crossed the border into Pakistan. They did not carry Farooq Abdullah. They carried (actor) Dev Anand".

"Farooq Abdullah knows we are part of India. Nobody can change us from that course. They did not want to take me", he said.

"What is Advani telling us? What did they do? They gave a list of 20 people (terrorists) to Pakistan and told them no talks would be held with them till you do not hand over 20 terrorist to India", he said adding "but what happened? Who invited them (Pak leadership) to Agra. It was not Farooq Abdullah then. I did not invite them".