LG pats J&K police, BJP slams Omar for ‘taking on’ cops | India News
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha hailed J&K police Sunday for “establishing an era of peace”, the fulsome praise coming hours after opposition BJP accused CM Omar Abdullah of “confronting” cops and “provoking separatism” last week when they tried to stop him from heading to a graveyard of 1931 martyrs’ in Srinagar.The Omar-led National Conference (NC) govt does not control police or security, whose reins are in the hands of the Centre-appointed LG, an arrangement that took shape after the 2019 abrogation of J&K’s special status under Article 370.“J&K police stand as a testament to selfless service, duty and sacrifice. Its legacy is written by the blood of its brave personnel, whose ultimate sacrifices have strengthened national unity, inspired new hope and propelled J&K towards an era of peace and prosperity,” Sinha said Sunday after inaugurating a cycle race, “Pedal through Paradise”.Sinha urged the youth to contribute towards building “a terror-free, drug-free and fit J&K”. “We must unite and wage a war against terrorism, its ecosystem and drug addiction. Don’t touch the innocent and do not spare the guilty is our policy. We believe in establishing peace and not buying peace,” Sinha said. The LG asserted that the administration was committed to delivering justice to the “families of victims of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism”.Later in the day, BJP leader of opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma held a news conference, targeting Omar over the events on July 14 when the CM went to Naqshband Sahib, the resting place of 22 people killed during an uprising against Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh on July 13, 1931.Sharma described Omar as an “unsuccessful CM” and alleged that he had provoked “separatism” when he faced off with cops by proceeding to Naqshband graveyard despite being stopped. Omar had denied having done anything “unlawful or illegal”. “In fact, these so-called protectors of the law need to explain under what law they were trying to stop us,” the CM had said after the standoff.On Sunday, NC spokesperson Ifra Jan rejected Sharma’s claims. “Instead of apologising to the people of J&K for disrespecting their elected representative, the LOP is pushing the state towards a police state. We are proud of our CM for defying the naka (police barricade) and truly embodying the spirit of July 13,” Jan said.
