Widespread condemnation of terrorists act
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 3: The mortal remains of BJP Municipal chairman Tral, Rakesh Pandita, who was shot dead by militants in South Kashmir’s Pulwama, were consigned to flames at Bantalab Cremation Ground this afternoon.
Click here to watch video
A large number of people including senior BJP leaders, police and civil officers attended his cremation. He was given a touching adieu by his party colleagues, friends and relatives.
The funeral procession started from his Roop Nagar residence to Bantalab Cremation Ground which besides his wailing and sobbing family members and relatives was joined by BJP leaders and activists. The body was wrapped in Tricolour and party flag. The pyre was lit by his son Paras Pandit. As he lit the pyre the slogans Rakesh Pandita Amar Rahey rent the air.
Those present during the cremation included MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, BJP president, Ravinder Raina, DDC chairman, Bharat Bushan, former Minister, Sat Sharma and other party leaders and corporators besides IGP Jammu, Mukesh Kumar and other senior police and civil officers.
Talking to reporters his sobbing and wailing son, Paras demanded a probe through any Central agency into the killing of his father. He said his father’s killing was a well planned conspiracy as he was put in a trap in a planned way.
His uncle Jawahar Lal Pandita who is also a BJP leader demanded economic rehabilitation of the family as it has lost the lone bread earner leaving behind his ailing mother, mentally retarded brother, his wife and son. He said family suffered a big tragedy as father of Rakesh had passed away just a fortnight before his killing.
Earlier body reached his Jammu residence early this morning from Srinagar.
Pandita was killed by unidentified militants in the Tral area of Pulwama district late on Wednesday evening. Pandita, the municipal chairman of Tral, was visiting a friend, Mushtaq Ahmad, when three militants opened fire at them. Ahmad’s daughter was also injured in the incident.
Pandita’s mortal remains arrived at his Roopnagar residence here at around 8.45 am and a number of people, including top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, thronged his home despite COVID restrictions.
Emotions ran high as the body arrived. The inconsolable family members broke down while people shouted “Rakesh Pandita amar rahe” (long live Rakesh Pandita).
The killing has evoked wide spread condemnation with leaders of various social and political organizations terming it a dastardly act of terrorists.
BJP national general secretary and incharge J&K, Tarun Chug termed the killing of his party leader in Tral a heinous act of Pakistan -sponsored terrorists who want to throttle democracy in the Union Territory. He in a statement said at a time when PM Narendra Modi is trying to bring about development and growth in J&K, terrorists vicious game plan is being plotted by ISI , which would be decisively defeated by the security forces.
National Conference (NC) chief and former CM, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Party vice president, Omar Abdullah, senior leaders, Ali Mohamed Sagar, Dr Mustafa Kamal, Nasir Aslam Wani and others have also strongly condemned the killing and expressed their deepest sympathy with the bereaved family. In his message Dr Abdullah said “The news of killing of BJP leader and Municipal Councilor from Tral has saddened me,. I condemn the incident in unequivocal terms and share the grief of the bereaved family. I pray for peace of the departed soul. The incident raises a question mark on the overall security situation in JK”, he added.
NC Provincial president, Devender Singh Rana also strongly condemned the brutal killing of the BJP councilor, Rakesh Pandit and described the terror act as barbaric and inhuman. While condemning the killing he said terrorism has no place in civilized society.
J&K BJP leaders have expressed their grief and anguish over the cold blooded killing of Rakesh Pandita. Party chief, Ravinder Raina said his sacrifice will not go waste and blamed Pak terrorists for the attack.
Former Deputy CM, Kavinder Gupta has also strongly condemned the brutal act and termed it result of frustration on the part of terrorists who he said will never succeed in their vicious designs.
BJP corporator and party convener, Local Bodies Cell, Sanjay Kumar Baru has also expressed his profound grief and shock over the killing of Rakesh Pandita and termed it dastardly act of terrorism.
Mayor Jammu Municipal Corporation, Chander Mohan Gupta and his team strongly condemned this dastardly act. A meeting was held in Town Hall here today under the chairmanship of Mayor, Chander Mohan Gupta which was also attended by Purnima Sharma Deputy Mayor, Narinder Singh Jamwal, chairman Health and Sanitation Committee,, Yasshpal Sharma, chairman Swacch Bharat Committee, Kuldeep Singh Jamwal chairman Social Justice Committee and Parmodh Kapahi , chief whip BJP who expressed profound grief over the killing of Rakesh Kumar councilor, Tral by terrorists and paid rich tributes to him.
Apni Party president Syed Altaf Mohammad Bukhari has also strongly condemned the killing of BJP leader and observed that violence in any of its manifestations is not going to yield anything for the people except death and destruction.
BJP and senior KP leader, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo while strongly reacting to the dastardly act said “These killings suggest that the designs of ethnic cleansing of KPs in the Valley is on cards, unabashedly. But the killings won’t deter our resolve to get resettled in Kashmir, since we belong to Kashmir and Kashmir belongs to us”, asserted Chrungoo.
CPI (M) senior leader and former MLA, Mohamad Yousf Tarigami has strongly condemned the killing of unarmed political activist Rakesh Pandit in Tral area of South Kashmir and said that violence in any form is condemnable.
Former Minister and chairperson of People’s Democratic Front (PDF), Hakeem Yaseen has also strongly condemned the killing of BJP leader. He said killing of any unarmed person was against the tenants of all religions.
PDP Jammu unit leader Abdul Hamid Chowdhary has also strongly condemned the terrorist act and prayed for peace of departed soul.
Panun Kashmir (PK) president, Virender Raina has also expressed his shock over the killing of Rakesh Pandit and termed it a barbaric act of terrorism. He said Rakesh was a brave man and he despite knowing the conditions choose to serve in Valley.
Several senior leaders of JKPCC have also strongly condemned the killing of MC president and BJP leader by terrorists. They termed it a cowardly act of terrorists and sought the statement of Home Minister, Amit Shah on the repeated killings of minorities and political activists in Kashmir. They also prayed speedy recovery of Asifa Mushtaq who was seriously injured in the attack. The signatories to the statement included former Ministers Mula Ram, Raman Bhalla, party spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma, Yogesh Sawhney, Balwan Singh, Ashok Sharma, Raman Mattoo, Suman Bhagat Majid Wani, Th. Balbir Singh, Shabir Ahmed Khan, Indu Pawar and others.
J&K Vichar Manch president Dillip Matttoo has also expressed his grief and shock over the killing of the BJP leader and president Tral Municipality and termed it a dastardly act of terrorism. KP social activists including Ashok Kangan, Dr R L Bhat, Bushan Lal Bhat and H L Bhat have also expressed their profound shock and grief over the killing of a young community activist.
KP Sabha president, K K Khosa has termed the terrorists act highly condemnable. He said it is the indicative of ground situation in Kashmir. Even five years after the killing of Burhan Wani, Tral continues to be hot bed of terrorism. He added that no terrorist activity can succeed without the support of over ground workers who help the terrorists to escape safely after committing crime.
Party general secretary, Vijay Bakaya has also expressed his shock at the cowardly act. He said the Rakesh Pandita
Symbolized the success of the UT administration to establish democracy at the grass root level and he was discharging his duties with commitment and zeal. Such attempts put fear in the hearts of those who have come forward to serve the people.
Nitish Mahajan State Executive Member, BJP paid tributes to BJP councilor who was shot dead by terrorists. He expressed strong anguish over this dastardly act of terrorists.
J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) leaders have expressed deep anguish over the killing of Municipal Councilor and BJP leader Rakesh Pandit. The party held virtual meeting under the leadership of Prof Bhim Singh its president and expressed shock over the killing of BJP leader.
All India Kashmir Samaj (AIKS) has unequivocally condemned the brutal killing of Rakesh Pandit and said that it was a well planned murder to send multiple messages to both Kashmiri Pandits as also to the Government. It has been a stated policy of the newly floated `The Resistance Front (TRF)’ to eliminate any Hindu who planned to settle down in Kashmir and it was a ploy to prevent the KPs to return to Kashmir, M K Pajan general secretary, AIKS said.
Vishaw Kashmiri Samaj chief, Kiran Wattal and its other leaders including Pintoo Ji have also expressed their profound shock and grief over the killing of BJP leader and demanded a thorough probe into the incident and immediate arrest of the terrorists responsible for the dastardly act.
Arya Pratinidhi Sabha Jammu and Kashmir president, Arun Chowhary has strongly condemned the dastardly act and demanded immediate arrest of terrorists responsible for killing of minority Hindu leader in Valley. He also said that such acts on minorities will not be tolerated now and Government should strongly act against the terrorism.
JKPCC in a statement form Srinagar has also strongly condemned the killing of the BJP leader in Tral.
The members of Ikkjutt Jammu including Amzi Arthur John, Prateek Mahajan, Ajay Sharma, Vishal Sharma and Parmeet Kumar have also expressed their grief and shock over killing. Bhuvneshwar Gandotra president Jammu Heritage Society has also strongly condemned the barbaric act of terrorists. He said terrorists will achieve nothing by such dastardly act and sacrifice of Rakesh Pandit will not go waste.
Shiv Sena Balasaheb Thackeray unit leaders of J&K have strongly condemned the killing of Hindu leader Rakesh Pandita and termed it cowardly act. Manish Sawhney, president Shiv Sena while condemning the act said the continuous targeting of Hindu leaders in the Kashmir Valley is a well planned conspiracy to crate an atmosphere of fear among the minorities so that they will never think about their returning to Kashmir.
BJP State Executive Member Raman Suri termed it as a desperation on the part of terrorists and said that such acts will never deter the resolve of Government in crushing the terrorism with iron hands. He said terrorists want to terrorize the people by indulging in selective killings of unarmed people but they will never succeed in their vicious designs.
BJP leaders and EX MLCs Surinder Ambardar and Girdhari Lal Raina, senior leader Sheela Handoo, BJP KDD president, Chand Ji Bhat, its general secretary, Mr Raina, and Nana Ji Raina, Mandal president BJYM KDD chief, Rahul Kaul have also expressed their profound shock and grief over the killing.
All State Kashmiri Pandit (ASKPC) president, Mr Wangnoo, its general secretary, R K Raina, and Bharat Bushan Gosani, senior leader Shuban Ji have also strongly condemned the terrorist act. Kashmiri Samiti Delhi president Sameer Chrungoo and KP leader, Rakesh Handoo have also strongly condemned the act of terrorism.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) president, Kundan Kashmiri, while strongly condemning the killing of Rakesh Pandita has asked the BJP leadership to explain on its claims that the security situation has improved in the Valley. He said the killing of yet another minority Pandit community representative is a cause of concern for KPs.
Kashmiri Khatri Hindu Maha Sabha chairman, Ramesh Chander Mahajan, JTC and SKF president, Shadi Lal Pandita, Thinkers Forum chief, Kuldeep Pandita and senior leader, Comrade Mohan Lal have also strongly condemned the killing of BJP leader and urged Government to take tough stand against the terrorists.
Magam Bangil Sabha president Raj Nath Raina while strongly condemning the killing asked the community not to show enthusiasm ton return to Kashmir or joining employment there as nothing for the community has changed in Valley since 1989 when mass exodus took place.
Kashmir Hindu Conference (KHC) president, M L Thusoo and its convener, P L Koul Budgami have strongly condemned the killing and said such acts have sent shock waves among the community. They said it shows that Government has also completely failed to ensure security to those members of community who mustered courage in restoration of democracy in Valley.
Vision Kashmir leader, Sanjay Chowgami and others have also strongly condemned the killing of the councillor and raised their questions over deteriorating situation in the Valley where minorities still feel insecure and unsafe.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
