Opposition National Conference (NC) today expressed grief over the civilian killings in Kulgam, saying Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti should introspect and acknowledge the damage caused by the government's "anti-people" policies.
An Army jawan was killed during a gunbattle with militants in the Kulgam district and four civilians, including two teenagers, died in clashes between locals and security forces that followed.
"It is time for PDP-BJP government and especially the chief minister to introspect and acknowledge the damage caused by their anti-people policies and actions throughout the state," NC president Farooq Abdullah said, expressing profound grief and sorrow over the civilian killings in Kulgam.
Abdullah, Member of Parliament from Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
NC working president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah has also expressed profound grief over civilian killings and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.
Omar said it was for the chief minister and her conscious to answer for her government's continued "supervision of bloodshed and oppression in Kashmir".
Meanwhile, NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar presided over a meeting of party leaders and legislators at NC headquarters Nawa-e Subah and expressed dismay over the "abject failure" of the chief minister.
"It is really unfortunate that civilians as young as 13-year-olds are dying and that there is no accountability for such killings," Sagar said.
He alleged Jammu and Kashmir has suffered at every level ever since PDP-BJP government assumed office.
"Whether it is Jammu, Srinagar or any other part of the state, mayhem and chaos continues to run amok. We all are witness to the deteriorating situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Deaths and maiming of the worst order have now become a routine," he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G A Mir also expressed profound grief over the unabated loss of lives due to regular incidents of encounters in south Kashmir and elsewhere in the valley, urging that the killings must end from either side in the larger interests of peace.
" The blood bath in valley has crossed all limits for which both the state and central government are fully responsible as they lack any policy, (which is) indicative of utter failure of the government on all counts. The situation in the valley has turned from bad to worse," Mir said in a statement here.
He said the loss of civilians and injuries to dozens, including security forces, during the encounter at Kulgam is highly painful.
"I have no words to express grief and anguish over the extremely volatile situation arising in the valley from time to time. One fails to understand as to what the Centre and the state is doing in this regard. Despite the loss of lives, both PDP and BJP have not able to restore calm. The matter of the fact is that they have lost the control over the situation which is very dangerous and fraught with serious consequences," Mir said.
The JKPCC president described the prevailing situation as an outcome of the "wrong policies" on the part of PDP and BJP.
"PDP and BJP have never been on the same page with regard to Kashmir situation. There is a need to adopt holistic approach to reach out to people to address the problems," he said, urging the Centre to ensure peaceful atmosphere in the valley so that the loss of lives from either side could be avoided.
Mir also urged the forces to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the situation and appealed the people, especially youth, to stop confronting forces and maintain calm in the larger interests of safety of life and property.
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