STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Questioning the stoic silence maintained by the BJP cabinet ministers including Deputy Chief Minister Prof Nirmal Singh over the statement of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti that if security forces were aware of the fact that Burhan Wani was present in the hideout he could have been given another ‘chance’ and ‘sacrifice of boys will not go waste’, Congress General Secretaries Vikram Malhotra and Manjit Singh on Friday criticised them for remaining mute spectators while the situation was slipping out of their hands.
Addressing a press conference here, General Secretaries of JKPCC Manjit Singh, Vikram Malhotra, Manmohan Singh and Namrata Sharma said, “We want to know from BJP ministers especially Prof Nirmal Singh whether they too agree with the statements of their own Chief Minister or they have a different view point.”
They also took jibe at BJP leaders, who always talked about intolerance towards terrorism and giving befitting reply to Pakistan, saying that they have been sticking to their chairs at the cost of compromising the safety and security of the country.
Vikram said instead of responding to the statements made by the Chief Minister, BJP leaders are trying to save her. He questioned leadership of RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena in the State and posed a straight question why they were all silent and not taking out protests against the Chief Minister.
“We want to know the truth behind the Burhan Wani’s encounter, which led to deterioration of law and order situation in the State”, young turk of the State Congress unit said. Another Congress leader, Manjit Singh said BJP leaders have been patting their backs for successfully carrying out the operation and killing HM commander Burhan Wani and on the other hand the Chief Minister is making a contradictory statement on the terrorist.
Singh said what is the message this alliance government is trying to send across to the people of the State. He said the situation is grim and worrisome and we are concerned for the safety and security of the people in Kashmir valley. Namrata Sharma while targeting central government headed by Narendra Modi said, the integrity of the country is at stake, morale of the security forces is at its lowest ebb and the BJP leaders are not reacting to the situation.
The Congress leaders warned the BJP leaders to come clean and clarify their stand in front of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “They have voted them to power from Jammu region with full majority, these ministers should clarify their stand and tell their supporters whether they stand with their own Chief Minister or not”, they added.
Responding to questions on the stand of the Congress in engaging with the separatists, Vikram Malhotra clarified that Congress has always supported dialogue with all the stakeholders and if separatists are included they should also be given the platform to present their view point. He, however, said, “We never compromised the security and integrity of the nation and adopted firm policy against terrorism in the state”.
Malhotra maintained the statements made by the senior party leaders like P Chidambaram and Prof Saif Ud DIn on situation in Kashmir valley were made in their personal capacities as they were not authorised by the party to speak on the issue.
