SRINAGAR, Dec 5: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed alarm over the recent attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal, a Z-plus category protectee, emphasizing the necessity for a thorough investigation.
“I spoke to Sukhbir yesterday after the incident. I am indeed grateful to the Almighty that he survived. We discussed the situation, although some aspects of our conversation are private,” Abdullah stated to reporters after participating in the 42nd annual day of SKIMS.
He highlighted that the daylight attack on a former deputy chief minister is a serious issue that warrants scrutiny.
“It is imperative that we understand how this occurred and ensure that such incidents do not take place in the future. We must remember the troubling times Punjab faced in the 1980s and early 1990s—let us hope we never see a repeat of that,” he added.
On the second day of his penance at the Golden Temple on Wednesday, Badal narrowly escaped injury when former Khalistani terrorist Narain Singh Chaura fired a shot at him from close range, missing. Chaura was swiftly subdued by undercover policemen.
Responding to inquiries about the surveys of mosques and shrines, Abdullah affirmed the importance of secularism in the country, declaring that every individual has the right to live freely.
“Our party has made this clear. Secularism is enshrined in our Constitution, and as long as that remains, everyone, regardless of religion, is entitled to live freely here,” he remarked.
Abdullah questioned whether the inspection of dargahs and mosques is part of a calculated conspiracy.
“We are not advocating for appeasement, but non-appeasement should not translate to targeting us. I urge that Muslims not be victimized,” he said.
“Attacking our places of worship or our religious practices amounts to victimization. This is not the India that Jammu and Kashmir was a part of; it’s not the vision our founding fathers had for the country, nor is it representative of the secular principles in our Constitution.
“If maintaining secularism is undesirable for you, then perhaps you should consider removing that principle through parliamentary action,” the National Conference leader concluded. (Agencies)
