Jammu, Mar 10: While the Kathua killings elicited uproar in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said that attempts were being made to politicise the issue.
“I offer my condolences to the families of victims on behalf of this House, but in one way or other the attempts were being made to give the issue a political colour,” the CM said.
He said that the Deputy Chief Minister was prevented from visiting the victims, with Police citing the sensitive security situation.
“But I am surprised – if the situation was so tense that the Deputy Chief Minister couldn’t visit, how was the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) able to go there?” CM Omar questioned.
As Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma rose from his seat to interrupt, the CM clarified that his question was not directed at him, but at those who permitted his visit while preventing the Deputy CM from going there.
“Either this new system doesn’t allow us to speak about the Police, or you have become the spokespersons for the Police in the House,” he said as the LoP continued to interrupt him.
CM Omar also demanded action against those who assaulted independent legislator Rameshwar when he visited the bereaved families at Sub District Hospital Billawar on Saturday.
“I don’t think his intention in going there was to do politics,” he said.
Earlier, amidst the din created by the members, seeking debate on the killings, CPI (M) MLA Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami suggested the CM express concern of the House over the killings.
“Tarigami Sahab has made a valid point. As the leader of the House, I not only want to put my concern and that of the House on record regarding the situation in Kathua but also condemn the killing of innocent civilians and express our solidarity with the bereaved families,” the CM said.
The post CM slams ‘political colouring’ appeared first on Greater Kashmir.
