CRPF commandant Chetan Cheeta's wife Uma Singh (pictured) who was by his side through the two difficult months of recovery tells ANI that stone pelters are the biggest hurdle for armed forces in Kashmir.

"Stone pelters have been the biggest hurdle for our armed forces in securing the place (Kashmir). If Mr Farooq Abdullah says stone pelters are nationalists, then we need to ponder who are anti-nationals?" Uma Singh, Chetan Cheeta's wife, said.

Cheeta received multiple gunshot injuries in a gunfight with three suspected Lashkar militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on February 14.

The operation was conducted after security forces got a tip-off about the militants having holed-up in the village. Eight people seven security personnel and one civilian were injured in the gunfight.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday defended the stone-pelting youth in the Valley, saying they are fighting for the nation and for the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the wishes of its people.

But the remarks by the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister came in for sharp condemnation from the states ruling coalition partners Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The PDP dubbed the remarks as political opportunism while the BJP said it was worrisome.

Abdullah, who also said that the stone-pelting youth were not giving up their lives for tourism, is contesting the bye-election to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat as the joint candidate of opposition NC and Congress. The polling in the constituency is to be held on April 9.

The NC leader was reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement on April 2 at the inauguration of Chenani-Nashri tunnel that the youth of Kashmir need to choose between tourism and terrorism.

If he (stone pelting youth) is giving up his life, he is not doing it for tourism. He is giving his life so that the destiny of this nation is decided which should be acceptable to the people of this place. This needs to be understood, Abdullah said at an election meeting in Sonawar.

Recently the tunnel was opened. He (the prime minister) said the youth here should think whether they want tourism or terrorism. I want to tell Modi sahib tourism is our lifeline, there is no doubt about it.

But he is a stone pelter. He has nothing to do with tourism. He will starve to death but he is pelting stones for his nation and there is a need to understand this, he added.

Abdullah also said that if India and Pakistan cannot resolve their problems, then the US should come forward and facilitate as third party to resolve their bilateral issues.