NC protests anti-Kashmiri remarks of BJP minister
National Conference, on Thursday, condemned the controversial statement of Jammu and Kashmir minister, Chandra Prakash Ganga, who had brazenly advocated the use of bullets against protesters in Kashmir.
While calling the comments unfortunate, National Conference and Youth National Conference workers took out a protest march from party headquarters and also burnt the effigy of the BJP minister outside TRC Srinagar. The protest rally was led by district president of Srinagar, Peer Afaq, and Youth National Conference provincial president, Salman Ali Sagar.
Chanting slogans against Ganga and the coalition government, hundreds of protestors started marching towards Lal Chowk. However, a heavy contingent of police intercepted the peaceful march at TRC Srinagar.
Addressing the gathering, leaders said, “Such use of language by a minister in the Mehbooba Mufti-led government is very unfortunate and reeks of the communal mindset prevalent among those who are supposed to be guardians of the society.”
While demanding Chandra Prakash Ganga’s resignation from the cabinet, Salman said, “It is highly shameful that no one from the government or from PDP has spoken against such rabid comments. It shows the seriousness and the priorities of this government. The whole Valley is going through a very volatile phase. Instead of deescalating the situation, efforts are being made to destabilise the situation in Kashmir. This is condemnable and will be resisted peacefully.”
“It is highly shameful that police manhandled our peaceful march and did not allow the protestors to move further. This act of police exposes the tall claims of PDP-BJP government of giving space to peaceful protests. When a major mainstream political party is treated like this, what can be expected from the administration when it comes to handling protests by students and others? The rule of law is completely missing on the ground and any semblance of government is nowhere,” provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani said while talking to reporters.
Taking a strong note of the remarks by BJP minister, provincial spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar castigated the present dispensation for maintaining a criminal silence. “For the sake of power, Mehbooba Mufti has sold her conscious and has given in to the arm pulling of its coalition partner, the BJP. In all this she has forgotten even those who have voted her to power,” he said adding, “Time will come when she will have to pay a heavy price for siding with those, who are openly calling for the murder of Kashmiris.”
Among others those who participated in the protest march were provincial secretary Ghulam Nabi Bhat, Mohd Amin Rather, YNC office bearers Ahsan Pardesi, Mudasir Shahmiri, womens wing provincial secretary Sabiya Qadri and others.
KV Correspondent
