Day after Bukhari’s killing, Rising Kashmir issue hits the stand; Omar says show must go on

Srinagar: A day after senior journalist and Rising Kashmir Editor-in-Chief Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Srinagar, the latest edition of the paper hit the stands on Friday morning with its front page carrying the full-length photograph of Mr Bukhari in black background.
Meanwhile, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said that Bukhari’s colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism and the most fitting tribute to their late boss.
“You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won’t be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be… Rest in peace!,” read the text on the first page of the newspaper.
The newspaper also carried about 11 opinion pieces written by Mr Bukhari on various issues, besides condemnation of the killing by people from all walks of life, including separatists, media fraternity and politicians. The last page of the newspaper carries pictures of the Press Enclave where the incident took places and also the photos of his family members.
“The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is today’s @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaat’s colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism & the most fitting tribute to their late boss,” Mr Abdullah, who is the vice president of National Conference (NC), wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Hitting out at the people trying to give a different colour to the killing, Mr Abdullah said, “If you had to politicise Shujaat’s death the least you could have done is show him the basic courtesy of getting his name right – it’s Bukhari not Bukhara or is that too much to ask?”
The NC VP also lashed out at Pakistan for floating conspiracy theory that Mr Bhukari was killed because he tweeted about today’s Human Rights report. “Never one to resist playing in Kashmir’s troubled waters Pakistan floats the conspiracy theory that #ShujaatBhukari was killed because he tweeted about today’s Human Rights report,” he added.