Claiming that hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani will not change his stand on Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah has urged him to work towards establishment of peace in the state.

"I respect Geelani Sahib a lot, but he will never change his stand on Kashmir," Abdullah said, while addressing a function in Jammu on Wednesday.

"Geelani, however, can contribute his bit in finding a way out to bring an end to violence in Jammu and Kashmir," the former chief minister said, adding, "Several innocent people have been killed and I strongly feel violence should come to an end."

Abdullah said that religion should be kept out of politics.

"There should not be any politics in the name of Mandir or Masjid. Our efforts should be to unite all religions and not to create wedge between them. We should introspect as to whether this country is heading on the lines which our elders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah dreamt of," he said.