Srinagar, Aug 13: National Conference President and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday condemned the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, calling it “extremely unfortunate” and raising concerns over a possible security lapse.
Talking to reporters here Dr Farooq said Badal faced several attacks in the past and this incident should be taken seriously by the authorities.
“Thank God, they were not successful last time, and they were not successful this time either,” he said, urging the Government of India to take note of the incident and ensure that such attacks do not recur.
Dr Farooq, who was flanked by his Chief Minister son, Omar Abdullah, said they condemn the incident and pray for Badal’s speedy recovery.
Referring to Nanded, where the incident took place, he said the place holds great religious significance as the site associated with the last rites of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Dr Farooq asked why only certain sections of society were receiving threats, while government officials, leaders and people belonging to different communities also live in Jammu and Kashmir.
He urged the Union Home Ministry to investigate the source of such threats and examine the use of social media in such activities, saying the matter required serious attention.
ON PARLIAMENT’S FUNCTIONING
Commenting on the recently concluded Parliament session, Dr Farooq said the functioning of the House had weakened and that questions raised by Members of Parliament were not receiving adequate responses.
He said Parliament was meant to provide a platform for raising people’s concerns and national issues.
“If you have completely turned Parliament into a dustbin, then what can you expect to come out of it?” he remarked.
ON KASHMIRI PANDITS
On the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, former J&K Chief Minister said several promises had been made to the community but questioned what had been done over the years.
He referred to the period of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said that during Omar Abdullah’s tenure, Kashmiri Pandits were brought back, settled and provided employment with the expectation that their families and others would eventually return.
He questioned the continued reliance on transit camps, saying Kashmiri Pandits should be able to live among the wider population. “There was never any opposition to Kashmiri Muslims living with them here, and we did not do that,” he said—(KNO)
