Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI/Jammu, June 14: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today condemned the killing of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar and termed it an “act of cowardice”.
Expressing shock at the journalist’s death, the home minister tweeted, “The killing of @RisingKashmir editor, Shujaat Bukhari is an act of cowardice. It is an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir. He was a courageous and fearless journalist.”
“Extremely shocked & pained at his death. My thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family,” he said on Twitter.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi too expressed grief over the death of the journalist and said Bukhari was fearlessly fighting for peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I’m anguished to hear about the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, editor of @RisingKashmir. He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu & Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed (sic),” Gandhi said.
Union MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh has strongly condemned the killing of Bukhari and expressed shock over it. He extended condolences to the family.
BJP national General Secretary Ram Madhav also termed the senior journalist’s killing a cowardly act by the terrorists.
In a tweet, he said, “Shocked to hear about d attack on d Editor-in-Chief of Rising Kashmir Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar. Reprehensible n condemnable cowardly act of d terrorists (sic)”
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said “He (Bukhari) did extremely good work during the floods in 2014. He was a nice person. In his death we have not only lost a good journalist but also a brilliant social worker.”
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah said, “Shocked beyond words. May Shujaat find place in Jannat & May his loved ones find strength at this difficult time.”
Abdullah also posted a screenshot of his last conversation with Bukhari on Twitter.
Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr Nirmal Singh has expressed shock over the killing and condemned it. He prayed for peace to the soul.
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