Politicians condemn Jammu and Kashmir terror attacks but separatists silent

SRINAGAR/PARGWAL (JAMMU): While the political class condemned the terror attacks in Kashmir on Friday in which 11 security personnel and two civilians were killed, there was silence from the separatist quarters - hawks and moderates included. This was surprising considering moderate separatists have been eliminated by the militants in the past, as also the fact that Kashmiri policemen and civilians were killed on Friday.

Home minister Rajnath Singh, saying militants wanted to create fear among the people as they are frustrated by high voter turnout in the assembly elections, sarcastically said, "If Pakistan can't stop these attacks, let it take India's help."

Singh, who was campaigning for party candidates in Jammu, further said, "Militants are entering this country from Pakistan and resorting to death and destruction here. Is it not true that these terrorists get shelter on Pakistani soil but Islamabad always denies this?" he asked.

Strangely, though, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said the media could not escape its part of the blame for the serial attacks. Miffed by a question from a reporter, Mehbooba said media's excessive focus and reporting on the high voter turnout in the assembly elections was the reason for the attacks.

J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said the attack in Uri showed "the desperate levels militants will go to disrupt peace and normalcy".

MoS, PMO, Jitendra Singh said, "My heart goes out to Army men who gave life in today's encounter... it is possibly an outcome of the overwhelming voting in J&K."

Meanwhile, criticizing the Pakistan government for helping Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed to hold his rally, MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said, "I would describe it as nothing short of mainstreaming of terrorism. (The rally) took place in national monument in Pakistan. It was an event (for which) large number of police personnel were deployed. The event which was advertised all over Pakistan."