Srinagar/June,3: President J&K Apni Party Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Chairman Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) in their separate condolence statements on Thursday condemned the killing of BJP’s councilor Rakesh Pandita reported Wednesday evening from Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
In a condolence statement issued here on Thursday the President Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that violence in any of its manifestations is not going to yield anything for the people except for death and destruction. “He was connected to grassroots level and was always ready to deliver his unstinted services for the public welfare. I on behalf my party strongly condemn this cowardly attack on a municipal representative of his caliber”, reads Bukhari’s condolence statement. Bukhari said the elements inimical to peace and prosperity in J&K should not be allowed to go scot free and Government must identify and nab the culprits behind such attacks and book them under stringent laws. “The cycle of violence should end somewhere so that people of J&K heave a sigh of relief as we have witnessed enough death and devastation for long now. We cannot afford the loss of another generation,” he remarked. While expressing solidarity with the bereaved family, Bukhari said “such dastardly acts can never be acceptable to any civilized society”. ‘Furthermore, he also sought a thorough security review of the political workers who reside in more violence prone areas in J&K. “The union home ministry should also take a review of the security situation in J&K and take measures to prevent recurrence of such attacks in future,” he added.
Condemning the killing of BJP councilor Rakesh Pandita the PDF Chairman and former Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen said “killing of any unarmed and innocent human being was against tenants of all religion”. Stating that “ in a democratic set up every citizen has right to express his views adding that dissent was essence of democracy”, Hakeem conveyed his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family”.
In a similar condolence statement Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) mourned the loss of BJP councilor and conveyed deepest condolences to family and friends of the deceased and also prayed for eternal peace departed soul. The Party also demanded stern action against the killers of Rakesh Pandita and ex-gratia to the family of deceased. The party in it’s above referred statement also urged the Government to ensure protection to political persons in J&K.
