JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday strongly condemned the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, which claimed at least 12 lives, terming it a heinous act that defies humanity and the principles of peace.
While expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives, the Chief Minister emphasized that the people of Jammu and Kashmir must not be viewed through the lens of terrorism, reiterating that only a “few elements have attempted to ruin peace and brotherhood in the region.”
“It is highly condemnable. No religion can justify the killing of innocents. However, not every resident of Jammu and Kashmir is a terrorist or associated with terrorism. These are only a few people who have disrupted peace here,” the Chief Minister said while speaking to reporters in Jammu.
He further appealed to the public and authorities to ensure that the guilty are punished while the innocent are not harassed in the name of security investigations.
Reacting to reports that one of the accused in the blast case was a professional doctor, the Chief Minister also raised questions over the lapses that allowed such individuals to operate unchecked.
“We have seen professors and educated individuals involved in such acts before. What kind of investigation was undertaken after they were expelled from their positions? Why was prosecution not carried out earlier?” he asked.
The Chief Minister assured full cooperation from the Jammu and Kashmir administration to the Central Government in maintaining normalcy and ensuring justice.
“We will continue to support every effort to preserve peace, unity, and harmony across the nation,” he added.
