Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, September 3
The mainstream political parties on Monday sharply criticised the Narendra Modi-led BJP government for the rise of militancy in Kashmir and sought explanation for the worrying trend.
The reactions came after The Tribune on Monday exclusively reported that for the first time in a decade, militant number crossed 300 in the Valley. The data showed all 10 districts in the Valley have the presence of militants — a worrying trend for the forces ahead of the upcoming panchayat polls.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed the high number as “another achievement” of Narendra Modi. “Another achievement of the Modi/NDA government — First time in decade, militant number crosses 300 in Valley,” Omar tweeted.
Responding to queries of a Twitter user, Maj Surendra Poonia, for blaming Modi and his government for the rise in number of militants, Omar responded: “Good questions but perhaps you should be asking yourself these questions since their numbers have risen dramatically in the last few years. See how many there were when I ended my term as CM and how many joined during the NDA/PDP-BJP government.”
Reacting to the story, Congress leader Salman Soz said the Narendra Modi government had a lot of explaining to do. “Is this incompetence or disregard for the national interest? The Modi government has a lot of explaining to do,” he tweeted. Former GOC-in-C of the Northern Command Lt Gen HS Panag (retd) also tweeted: “Now indigenous terrorist outnumber Pak terrorists by 2:1.”
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar, however, said the political parties should not try to score points if the figures have crossed 300.
“It is not about numbers. Even one militant is too many. It is about the mindset and the level of alienation… We should not see the figures in the context of today or tomorrow. We all should realise it is a big problem and we have to address the issue and the maximum responsibly lies with the national leadership. We all have to close ranks and tell them it is not possible until they walk the talk,” Akhtar added.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesman Khalid Jehangir reacted sharply to the blame of rise in militancy being put on the party.
“Well, everyone knows about the history of Congress politics in Kashmir since 1947 when Sheikh Abdullah was arrested and after that how the Farooq Abdullah government toppled in 1983. The black history in the democratic country was the rigging of the 1987 elections. So, the Congress has a history to smuggle the militancy in Kashmir. On the contrary, Omar Abdullah should have reacted to the Congress’s smuggled militancy in Kashmir rather than the PM or the NDA,” Jehangir said.