Srinagar, Aug 14 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday strongly condemned the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, saying there was no place for violence in a democracy.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said such attacks were dangerous for democracy and questioned how Badal, who has Z-plus security, could be attacked despite assurances of heightened protection.
“There was an attack in Amritsar before this. After that, it was said that his security would be taken special care of. It is Z-plus security. But where is the Z-plus?” Abdullah said.
He said Badal was injured in the latest incident and had to be shifted to a hospital for treatment.
“Such attacks should not take place. There is no need for such things in a democracy. If you are angry with someone, you can express your anger in an election,” he said.
On the Indus Waters Treaty, Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir had suffered because of restrictions imposed under the agreement and welcomed its cancellation.
He said Jammu and Kashmir had not been able to fully utilise its water resources, including the Chenab, and claimed that the region had been denied the ability to construct major dams or use water resources for navigation.
“This is our blood that has been sucked. These are our rivers. We had the first right to this,” Abdullah said.
He said the region should now be able to make greater use of its water resources following the suspension of the treaty.
On the demand for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Abdullah said the protest at Jantar Mantar was “not the end” but only the beginning of efforts to press for restoration.
Asked about reports of a possible long march to Leh, he said there were several options being considered and that any plans would first be discussed internally.
He also welcomed reports that his party was planning a long march, saying there was nothing wrong with such a move.
“The country needs to remember that we were promised. And it wasn’t a normal promise. It was a promise of Modi,” Abdullah said, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment on statehood.
He described the commitment as a “super promise” and questioned why it had not yet been fulfilled.
“Why hasn’t this super promise been fulfilled yet? We are not getting an answer to this,” he said.
Abdullah said he would continue to raise the issue and would not remain silent on the demand for restoration of statehood.
“We will keep discussing this topic again and again. Neither will I remain silent on this topic,” he said.(KNS).
