Jammu
National Conference president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah is happy that the Opposition’s unity moves were heading in a right direction, but made it clear that, “this unity is neither against Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor against ‘mandir’ in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.”

His remarks came a day after a meeting of Opposition leaders seeking unity of their groups ahead of the 2019 parliamentary polls. The move has been initiated by Telugu Desam Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Farooq, who is playing a pivotal role in the effort, told The Tribune over phone that it was wrong to assume that the Opposition unity was against any individual leader.

For a man who prizes his reputation for straight talking, Farooq is remarkably adept at sending mixed messages as well. “It is patently wrong to assume that we are seeking Opposition unity guided by the anti-Modi factor,” he said, adding, “Let it be clear that we have a larger goal in mind. It is neither anti-Modi nor about ‘mandir’ or any mosque.”

The Opposition leaders are looking forward to two clear goals, “save democracy, save nation.” He said that the democratic institutions were under assault at the moment, and “there is a dire need to save them.”

“The saving of these institutions has become a necessity to save the nation,” he said, adding that the communal and fascist forces were taking away the democratic space. “We have to get that back for the sake of the people of the country.”