“While we work out who is to blame for Uri and what an appropriate response will be, do we not owe our troops flame retardant tents and huts?” Omar Abdullah,former cm

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 18

National Conference working president Omar Abdullah on Sunday “strongly condemned” the attack on the Army base in Uri sector.In a statement, the former Chief Minister expressed solidarity with the families of the martyred jawans and extended his heartfelt condolences to them.“This is a highly condemnable and tragic incident. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred jawans who have lost their lives and pray for the speedy recovery of those who have sustained injuries in the attack,” Omar said.In a series of tweets, Omar also criticised the government saying it is a “crying shame that fire retardant tents aren’t the norm”.“While we work out who is to blame for Uri and what an appropriate response will be, do we not owe our troops flame retardant tents and huts?” he said. “If the reports are correct and 13 of the 17 fatalities are because of burns it’s a crying shame that fire retardant tents aren’t the norm,” he said.Omar said, “We owe it to our jawans to give them the best that we can because they are the first to lay down their lives and sacrifice everything for us.”“The mess will be made more fancy, the auditorium more modern, officers quarters more comfortable but the jawans will be taken for granted,” he said.