JAMMU (Jammu and Kashmir) : Condemning the terror attack in Srinagar that claimed the lives of two civilians, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference (NC) leader, Omar Abdullah, on Thursday said the incident served to demonstrate that the prevailing situation in the Union Territory isn’t what the administration claims it to be.
Speaking to ANI on Thursday, the National Conference leader said, “We deeply regret that two of our guests (non-residents) fell victim to this firing incident in Srinagar. One person died in the attack yesterday itself, while the other succumbed to his injuries at a hospital today.”
“We express our deepest sympathies to the family members of the deceased and condemn this attack in the strongest terms,” Abdullah added.
Claiming that there’s been a pattern of such attacks in the UT over the last few years, the former chief minister added, “As we have seen in the last 2-3 years, such killings have almost become a pattern in Jammu and Kashmir. This raises larger questions about law and order and security. It tells us that the prevailing situation here is not what the administration would have you believe it is.”
The National Conference leader claimed further that such attacks had ‘almost ended’ in areas such as Srinagar, Rajouri and Poonch during previous regimes and the spike in the killings was unfortunate and a matter of concern.
“They (the UT administration) had said all guns in the Valley would fall silent once Article 370 is removed from Jammu and Kashmir. However, in areas such as Srinagar, Rajouri and Poonch where militant attacks had almost ended, killings are being reported again. This is unfortunate and a matter of grave concern,” Abdullah added.
Earlier, on Wednesday, a man from Amritsar identified as Amritpal Singh was killed and another, identified as Rohit, was critically wounded after terrorists opened fire at the Shaheed Gunj area in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that the BJP-led NDA was poised to win more than 400-plus seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Abdullah ripped into the government at the Centre, saying it should first ensure public safety before making claims on the number of seats it will win.
“They should first ensure public safety and then talk about 400 seats. They should come clean on why the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is so alarming. We heard big claims on the return and restoration of peace here. In fact, every time they say that militancy is on its last legs and will be history soon, an attack follows. Then these voices fall silent,” the former CM said.
“Let’s talk about 400 seats later. Let them first explain the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir to the country,” he added.
He stated further that the Opposition in the Valley cannot be seen as complicit or having anything to do with these incidents, as they are out of power.
“They (the central government) have direct control over Jammu and Kashmir now from Delhi. Our budget is also sanctioned and passed in the national capital and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) acts as per the directions he receives from there,” Abdullah claimed.
“If such attacks take place under the double-engine government, as they call it, then it represents the failure of the people at the helm of the administration currently,” he added. (ANI)