Srinagar, Mar 09 : Condemning the killing of a civilian in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the opposition mainstream political parties on Thursday said that such ‘unfortunate incidents’ are bound to affect the upcoming by-polls slated to be held in April this year for Parliamentary seats.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief, G A Mir said, “It is unfortunate that the civilians killings are still on in the Valley. We have quite apprehensions that such killings would affect the upcoming by-polls as such killings distresses the mindset of the people.”
He said that it stands the responsibility of the incumbent government to normalize the situation in the Valley. “The government earlier deferred the by-polls due to the law and order situation. I believe that there is no difference in the situation at present as the civilian killing goes unabated in the Valley. It stands the responsibility of the government to make conducive atmosphere for the upcoming polls,” he said.
Mir told KNS that they have already said that they are always ready for the democratic processes. “As being a national party, we (congress) are always ready for the democratic processes but that doesn’t mean that the government can let loose the situation. They should play their role in normalizing the situation and must stop the civilian killings,” Mir added.
Terming the killing of a class 9th student as ‘unfortunate’, National Conference (NC) General Secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar told KNS that these killings are bound to affect the upcoming by-polls. “If such killings would continue then the people won’t participate in the upcoming by-polls. These killings if not stopped are bound to affect the affect the by-polls,” he said.
“It is government which is disturbing the peace in the Valley. A day after Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti asked the youth to help her in restoring the peace, the forces have killed one more youth in Pulwama, which demonstrates the actual face of the government,” Sagar added.
He said that nobody except the government is responsible in deteriorating the situation. “The tall claims and promises made by the CM infront of youth proved hoax on the ground. How can we achieve peace by killing civilians,” he added. (KNS)