Tumakuru, Dec 11 (DHNS): Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, on Sunday, said it was a tragedy that fundamentalists in the country were building a temple for Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse.

"What message will this send?" the National Conference (NC) president said.

Abdullah was addressing the gathering at the state-level minorities' convention organised by the JD(S) in the city.

Such efforts will, however, will not succeed in a country where people know about secular values and Gandhi's ideals. He said all citizens were one in the country, including the minorities.

The NC president called upon members of the minority communities to realise the value of their votes.

Abdullah said the power of the vote was gained after a long struggle and sacrifice by freedom fighters.

He called upon the minorities to work for a secular nation as envisaged by Gandhi and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Fundamentalist forces were sowing the seeds of hatred among the people in the name of mandir and mosque.

He said there are instances of Muslims helping in the rebuilding of temples destroyed by floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir called upon the people not to look at Kashmiris with suspicion, adding that Kashmir was not Pakistan.

Noting that Kashmiris had strived for the independence struggle, he said it is the Kashmiris who lose their lives whenever there is a war between India and Pakistan. Even in such a situation, Kashmiris had given up their lives for strengthening secular forces.