Jammu: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday strongly condemned the recent attack on Dr Farooq Abdullah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, describing the incident as unfortunate and against democratic values.
The condemnation came during a meeting of BJP spokespersons held under the leadership of Chief J&K BJP Spokesperson Advocate Sunil Sethi, where the leaders discussed the incident and expressed serious concern over the attack on political leaders.
It was informed in the meeting that the incident relates to a recent firing that took place during a wedding function in Jammu’s Greater Kailash area, where a gunman allegedly attempted to target the senior political leader. According to reports, the incident occurred late Wednesday evening when Dr Farooq Abdullah, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, was attending a wedding ceremony at a marriage hall in the upscale Greater Kailash locality of Jammu.
As the leaders were leaving the venue, a man allegedly approached from behind and fired a shot from close range. Security personnel present at the venue immediately intervened and overpowered the attacker before he could cause any harm. Both leaders escaped unhurt in what officials described as a narrow escape.
Police identified the accused as Kamal Singh Jamwal, a resident of Purani Mandi in Jammu. He was arrested on the spot and the pistol used in the attack was seized by security personnel. During preliminary questioning, the accused reportedly told investigators that he had been planning to kill Dr Farooq Abdullah for nearly two decades and described the attempt as part of a personal agenda. Authorities, however, have said that no terror angle has been established so far, though investigations are continuing.
Addressing the meeting, Sunil Sethi said that violence has no place in a democratic society and political differences must always be addressed through dialogue and constitutional means. He stated that the BJP firmly opposes such acts and reiterated that the party does not support any activities that threaten peace and democratic functioning.
J&K BJP spokesperson, Dr. Tahir Chowdhary, added that attempts to harm political leaders not only undermine democracy but also create an environment of fear and instability. He stressed that political disagreements must be resolved through dialogue and constitutional procedures, and lauded the role of security personnel in preventing any loss of life.
The spokespersons also emphasized the need for maintaining a healthy political environment in Jammu and Kashmir and said that targeting political leaders through violent means is unacceptable.
They called for a thorough and transparent probe into the incident so that the circumstances surrounding the attack can be properly examined and those responsible are brought to justice.
During the discussion, the BJP leaders reiterated that the party stands for democratic values and peaceful political engagement and urged authorities to ensure that such incidents are thoroughly investigated to prevent their recurrence.
The spokespersons also stressed that strict action should be taken in accordance with the law so that confidence in democratic institutions and public safety is maintained.
