Political parties condemn killing of BJP leader in Tral

Srinagar, Jun 3: All political parties on Thursday condemned the killing of a BJP municipal councilor by suspected militants in south Kashmir district of Pulwama late last night.
BJP municipal councilor Rakesh Pandita was killed by three suspected militants at Tral in south Kashmir district of Pulwama late on Wednesday night.
Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah said that BJP councillor Rakesh Pandita joins a long list of mainstream politicians targeted and assassinated in Kashmir because of their association with electoral politics. “I unequivocally condemn this attack and convey my heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace,” Abdullah wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Reacting to the incident, former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said that she is shocked to hear that Pandit has been shot dead by militants. “These senseless acts of violence have brought only misery to J&K. My condolences to the family & may his soul rest in peace,” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami strongly condemned the killing of Pandit and said that violence in any form is condemnable.
Terming the incident as unfortunate, he said that there is no justification to kill any unarmed person. “There is an urgent need to put an end to civilian killings,” he added.
Expressing shock and grief over the killing, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said it was heinous act of Pakistan-sponsored militants who want to throttle democracy in the union territory.
Chugh, who is party incharge for J&K and Ladakh, said at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to bring about development and growth in J&K, militants’ vicious game plan is being plotted by the Pakistan.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari observed that violence in any of its manifestations is not going to yield anything for the people except for death and destruction.
He said that Rakesh Pandita was a dynamic person who would also visit Apni Party office to discuss a myriad of matters that concerned the people of Tral. “He was connected to grassroots level and was always ready to deliver his unstinted services for the public welfare. I on behalf my party strongly condemn this cowardly attack on a municipal representative of his caliber,” he remarked.
Bukhari said the elements inimical to peace and prosperity in J&K should not be allowed to go scot free and the administration must identify and nab the culprits behind such attacks and book them under stringent laws. “The cycle of violence should end somewhere so that people of J&K heave a sigh of relief as we have witnessed enough death and devastation for long now. We cannot afford the loss of another generation,” he remarked.
“Yet again gunmen attack a non combatant. This gun is a curse. Just ponder. Since the day this menace came into Kashmir. What have we seen. In a nut shell total disempowerment of the Kashmiri. Dear gunmen. Can u please go back where u came from. We have had enough,” Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone tweeted.