Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 31: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expressed surprise over the withdrawal of security at National Conference headquarters in Srinagar, pointing out that the move comes barely weeks after an assassination attempt on party president and his father, Farooq Abdullah.
He said the decision was difficult to comprehend, especially when the office is visited by the party chief two to three times a week.
Farooq Abdullah, a former chief minister, had a narrow escape on March 11 when 63-year-old Kamal Singh, a resident of Purani Mandi area of Jammu, opened fire from a point-blank range while the veteran leader was leaving a wedding function in the Greater Kailash area here. The attacker was overpowered and arrested, and his revolver was seized.
“The security at NC headquarters has not been reduced, but completely withdrawn. That in itself is surprising, because it has barely been a week since the attack on Farooq Abdullah. At the time, everyone said it should not have happened, and it is a matter of concern,” the chief minister told reporters outside the legislative assembly here.
The House took up a half-hour discussion, initiated by National Conference MLAs, over the withdrawal of security from the party headquarters — the ‘Nawai Subuh’ complex. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather expressed concern and urged the authorities to either declare Jammu and Kashmir “risk-free” or ensure security for all.
“As one of my colleagues rightly pointed out, Farooq Sahib visits that office two to three times a week, and you have completely removed the security of that office. What is the compulsion? What is the reason that it had to be removed? If we come to know from the administration, it would be good,” the chief minister said.
On reports of US President Donald Trump stating that France is not allowing the use of its airspace, Abdullah declined to comment, stating that the matter does not concern India. |
