Terming the detention of senior leader Arun Jaitley on his way to riot-hit Kishtwar as grossly unfair and undemocratic, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday criticized the Omar Abdullah Government, and alleged that it appears as if the ruling National Conference has a lot to hide.
"The detention of Arun Jaitley is grossly unfair and undemocratic. Apart from being the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, he is a senior national leader, commands a respect, integrity. His visit would have only calmed down the temper there. He would have ensured that at least people do not suffer, but to detain him at the airport itself shows the government has a lot to hide," said BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.
"A lot of questions are being raised about the local MLA of National Conference who is also Minister of State for Home Sajjad as to how he provoked the entire situation. After all, we all want there should be calm, there should be communal amity and palpably it is evident that the government of Farooq Addullah has not taken adequate measures as were required to be taken," he added.
Prasad further said he would expect that the army is allowed to ensure that there is no flare up further and things remain quiet.
"But yes, the way Mr. Arun Jaitley was detained we condemn it outright, unwarranted, undemocratic and wholly unreasonable," he added.
Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley was detained at the Jammu airport earlier in the day as he arrived to visit Kishtwar.
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People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti was also not allowed to visit Kishtwar in view of the escalating violence.
"My cavalcade has been stopped at the security line. You have seen so many policemen standing at the gate. Nobody seems to be in control of the situation, which is very unfortunate," she told media in Srinagar.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appealed to people of the state to dismiss rumours and cooperate with the administration in order to bring the current situation under control.
Abdullah, who was speaking in Srinagar, also asked people not to fall a prey to politics and assured that justice will be done.
"Our main aim was to maintain calm in Kishtwar and surrounding areas. We will do everything that is necessary to maintain peace in Kishtwar. Swift action will follow and people responsible for the death will be brought to book with strict punishment," he added.
Abdullah's remarks came in the wake of the recent clashes in Kishtwar and in various regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kishtwar remained curfew-bound for the third consecutive day today after communal violence broke out in the city on Friday.
Curfew was today clamped in three more districts of Udhampur, Samba and Kathua in Jammu region and Army staged flag marches as tension prevailed following outbreak of communal violence in Kishtwar.