Killing spree, fear in Kashmir belie normalcy claims: Farooq

NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah addressing party meeting at Srinagar on Thursday.
NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah addressing party meeting at Srinagar on Thursday.

‘Ostrich approach will push situation to point of no return’

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 2: Targeted killings of civilians and the pervasive fear among the people in Kashmir belie the Government’s claims of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah said today, alleging the administration has its head in sand.
“This ostrich approach will push the situation to a point of no return,” said the former J&K Chief Minister, presiding over a meeting of the National Conference’s provincial committee (Kashmir) at Nawa-e-Subah here.
Addressing the meeting, Abdullah reiterated the party’s stand to “peacefully fight for restoration of J-K’s identity and dignity” – an apparent reference to J-K’s special status which was revoked by the Centre on August 5, 2019.
The NC president also expressed serious concern over the “deteriorating” security scenario in the Valley leading to a series of targeted killings of innocents including members of the minority communities, the party said.
“I unequivocally condemn the brutal killing of Vijay Kumar, a Bank Manager in Kulgam. The killing spree and the pervasive fear among civilians, minorities and other soft targets gives a lie to the claims of the Government that everything was Ok in Kashmir,” he said.
Farooq, Member of Parliament from Srinagar, said, “Our brothers and sisters are being targeted under daylight, but the Government has its head in the sand.”
“This ostrich approach will push the situation to a point of no return,” he added.
“I cannot say anything,” Abdullah rued, “if this is the new face of normalcy” that an employee becomes a target in a busy office, or a policeman gets killed at home.
“We feel sorry that innocent people are being killed one after another. Minorities are being killed. Police persons are being killed. Civilians are getting killed in targeted attacks,” he said.
The party’s provincial committee members echoed the sentiments of the party president and expressed concern over the security scenario in Kashmir.
All the members present in the meeting unanimously passed two resolutions condemning the spate of targeted civilian killings and ED summons to the party president, the NC said.
During the meeting, the provincial committee members deliberated on a plethora of issues concerning the party and the public in their respective areas. The members also shared their estimation of the ground situation with the party president and the vice president.
Earlier, the meeting started with paying rich tributes to Panthers Party Supremo Bhim Singh who passed away on Tuesday.
Party’s vice president Omar Abdullah, general secretary Ali Mohd Sagar, additional general secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani also spoke on the occasion.
Prominent among those present include AR Rather, Mohd Shafi Uri, Ch Mohd Ramzaan, GA Shah, Mubarak Gul, Sharief-Ud-Din Shariq, Hasnain Masoodi, Nazir Gurezi, Ali Mohd Dar, Dr Bashir Veeri, Javed Dar, Mir Saifullah, Irfan Shah, Mohd Syed Akhoon, Gh Mohiuddin Mir, Abdul Majeed Larmi, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, Peer Afaq, Altaf Ahmad Wani, Showkat Hussain, Dr Sajjad Shafi, Showkat Mir, Salman Sagar, Mushtaq Guroo, Sara Hayat Shah, Sheikh Mohd Rafi, Peer Mohd and others.