'You cannot choose neighbour': Farooq Abdullah quotes Vajpayee, takes jibe at PM Modi

Kadapa: Jammu and Kashmir former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday stressed that India should maintain good relations with Pakistan as a neighbour.

Abdullah made the remarks while participating in a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) election rally in Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa.

The National Conference leader also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying Atal Behari Vajpayee’s quote, "You can change your friends but, you cannot choose your neighbours. We have to find peace with the neighbours."

"If we maintain good relations with our neighbours, both will grow. Else, both will suffer," he added.

He charged the BJP with taking up one issue for every election. "In the last election, they said they would build Ram Mandir. Why is nobody talking about it now?” Farooq questioned.

He also claimed that that YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy had come to him after his father YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s death. "He offered Rs 1,500 crore to the Congress leaders if they make him the chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Where did he get that money from? Did he have a treasure buried somewhere? It must be looted money. If such people are elected as CMs, they would only swindle money," he said cautioning the voters of Andhra Pradesh.

He also invited the people of Andhra Pradesh to Kashmir as tourists after elections. "Kashmir was mine and is mine and will forever remain integral part of India," he added.