Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley, who was today detained at the Jammu Airport on his way to riot-hit Kishtwar, held the Omar Abdullah Government responsible for the communal riots that rocked several places in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three days.
Jaitley also blamed the authorities for hiding the ground realities that led to the violence.
"Shops belonging to a particular community were burnt, their vehicles were burnt, dozens of people were injured, some people have died also, houses have been looted and this violence has now spread to towns like Rajouri," said Jaitley.
"The BJP wanted its delegation to go there so that the confidence of the victims could be built up and also to find out the factual situation. Now, there is a complete censorship and the national media is not allowed there," he added.
Terming Jaitley's detention as grossly unfair and undemocratic, the BJP earlier in the day 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 Kichloo 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.
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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.
People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti was also not allowed to visit Kishtwar in view of the escalating violence.
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.