Killing of BJP leader, family members
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 9: Leaders cutting across part lines condemned the killing of BJP leader Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father and brother in a terrorist attack in Bandipora while Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders staged protests in many parts of the UT demanding a thorough probe into the matter.
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“Shradhanjali Sabha (condolence meet)” was organized by BJP at party headquarter, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu to pay tearful adieu to one of its young and dynamic leader from the valley. MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, former Minister Sat Sharma, former Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta, party vice-presidents Sham Sharma, Anuradha Charak and Aseem Gupta, former Minister Dr DK Manyal, former Minister Abdul Ghani Kohli, former MLA Neelam Langeh, former MLCs Vikram Randhawa and Girdhari Lal Raina were amongst the prominent party leaders who paid their final respects to the departed souls.
They expressed extreme grief and sorrow as well as strong anguish over the gruesome incident that took away the lives of 3 persons including the father of both young BJP leaders. BJP leaders termed it as desperate attempt of Pakistan sponsored militants to fail ongoing peace process in J&K. They added that BJP stands with the family and the perpetrators of crime will not be spared at any cost.
BJP president J&K Ravinder Raina attended the last rites of BJP leader Sheikh Waseem Bari, Umar Sultan and their Father at Bandipora, Kashmir. J&K BJP general secretary (Organization) Ashok Kaul, party general secretary Advocate Vibodh Gupta and other senior leaders also attended the last rights of young BJP leaders and their father. Addressing the media, Raina said, “We will take avenge of the martyrdom of brave hearts in Kashmir. Lashker killed our 3 brave hearts, now we will kill 300 Laskhers.”
Led by Yudhvir Sethi, J&K BJP vice resident, the party workers assembled near City Chowk area of Jammu city and raised anti-Pakistan slogans demanding elimination of the terrorists involved in the killings. The protest was organized by Parveen Kerni, president BJP Jammu East Mandal. Kerni urged the Government to take speedy measures to review the security grid and boost intelligence network.
In a tweet, Devender Singh Rana, provincial president, National Conference, said, “Shocked to hear about the sad dastardly killing of BJP leader of Bandipora alongwith his brother and father. SAD INDEED. Highly condemnable act of terrorism which is unpardonable. May God grant the family the strength to bear this great loss.”
In a statement issued here, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leader Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari termed the killing of BJP leader and his family members as highly deplorable and demanded that the perpetrators of this heinous act should be brought to justice. “JKAP strongly condemns this ghastly terror attack which resulted in the death of three members of the same family. Such shameful and mindless incidents shall achieve nothing except for more miseries for the common people,” Bukhari remarked.
While expressing deep shock over the assassination of Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father and brother, former MLC Vikram Randhawa said that the terrorists are trying to silence the nationalist forces in Kashmir valley on gun points. Terming the death of the Bari and his family members a great loss to the BJP and loss to the nationalism, Randhawa said that those trying to silence nationalist forces would never succeed in their designs. He said that the killers of Bari and his family members would soon meet their fate.
Dr Narinder Singh, senior vice president, J&K BJP strongly condemned the dastardly act and said that the nation will not be cowed down by such acts. He reiterated the nation’s resolve to weed out terror from the country.
Condemning the killing of BJP leader and his family members, Girdhari Lal Raina, Ex MLC said, “It reflects frustration of Pakistan and its stooges in Kashmir. Terrorists have completely failed in misleading people and are therefore silencing the voices of sanity and probity. This treacherous act of mindless violence will fail to deter common people from rising against perpetrators of death and destruction”. He demanded probe into the matter as to how despite having adequate security, BJP leader and his family members were killed by the terrorists.
Expressing his shock and anguish over the killings, BJP J&K executive member Raman Suri today said that like Parihar brothers in Kishtwar, Sadhus in Palghar and BJP workers in Kerala, these killings in Kashmir are aimed at intimidating BJP and its members. “These pan-India attacks on BJP leaders and workers are not going to cow us down and the party stands by the families of all those who sacrificed their lives,” he said, adding, like killers of Parihar brothers, killers of Sheikh Wasim Bari, his father and brother, will also be hunted and gunned down.
Condemning the gruesome killings, described the incident as very shameful and mindless. In a statement, the Party expressed anguish over this highly deplorable incident and demanded exemplary punishment to killers. JKPCC also conveyed deepest condolences to family of BJP leader and expressed solidarity with them.
Prof Bhim Singh, chief patron of J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP), while condemning brutal massacre of three BJP activists in the same family of Bandipora, demanded immediate restoration of Governor Rule in J&K as Union Territory status has proved total failure in J&K. He also demanded an urgent enquiry by the District Magistrate Bandipora about the role of the security cover which was provided to the BJP activists. He further demanded security to all political activists from all political parties in J&K.
In a statement, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami condemned the killings of BJP leader Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father Bashir Ahmed and brother Umar Bashir. “There is no justification to kill anybody and violence has no place in any civilized society. The brutal incident has deeply shaken the entire Kashmir Valley,” Tarigami said and expressed deep sympathy with the bereaved family.
District Jammu West unit of BJP led by district president Munish Khajuria protested against killing of party leader from Bandipora Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father and his younger brother. The protesting leaders and activists demanded a thorough probe into the matter to find culprits behind the heinous activity. While condemning the brutal killings of BJP leaders, Khajuria said that the dastardly step of terrorists cannot suppress the nationalist voices in the valley.
Hundreds of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers led by their president Arundev Singh, today marched through the main road near Pt Prem Nath Dogra Chowk Jammu, raising anti-Pakistan slogans and demanding neutralization of the attackers of slain BJP leader Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father Basheer Bari and younger brother BJYM program coordinator (Kashmir) Umar Sultan, at the earliest.
BJYM Udhampur unit led by its president Sushant Gupta held a protest over the killings of BJP leaders in Bandipora. The BJYM activists raised slogans in honour of Shaheed Wasim Bari and demanded revenge from his killers. They requested the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to make a special encounter team of Indian Army to make Kashmir “Terrorism Free”.
The workers of Dogra Front & Shiv Sena under the leadership of their president Ashok Gupta held a protest against the killing of Waseem Bari and his other family members. The party workers burned the posters of Imran Khan shouting anti-Pakistan slogans. They demanded enquiry into the killings as security officials of the BJP leader were not present at that time.
In a statement issued today, Chairman People’s Democratic Front (PDF) Hakeem Yaseen condemned the killing of Waseem Bari along with his father and brother. He said that killing of any human being is against the high tenants of all religions. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed souls.
Members of Jammu Province People’s Forum (JPPF) under the presidentship of Paviter Singh observed two minutes silence to pay rich tributes to Wasim Bari and others who were brutally killed by the militants in Kashmir. “It is matter of grave concern that people who wants to join the main stream are brutally killed to create panic in the society,” they said and demanded the Government to deal such acts with iron hands.
All J&K PoJK 1947 Sharnarthi Intellectual Forum in its core committee meeting held today via video conference expressed grief over the gruesome killing of BJP leaders. The Forum extended their condolence to the bereaved family and prayed the almighty for bestowing the departed soul in heaven.
Condemning the gruesome killings, Kashmiri Pandit Sabha Jammu said that that Pakistan is solidly behind all such activities. “Inspite of stringent measures being taken by security forces against terrorists, they have been managing to outwit the security forces and commit one gruesome act after another with regularity,” Sabha said and appealed the Central Government to step up measures to break the nexus of over ground workers without whose support it was impossible to commit acts of terrorism with impunity.
To show resentment against the brutal killings, Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) led by its president Pt R K Bhat, held a symbolic protest demonstration at Jammu. Bhat said that YAIKS strongly condemns the brutal killing of BJP leaders despite having huge security. “It is a serious security lapse and prima facie, seemingly, a big conspiracy,” he said and demanded immediate action against the killers and their supporters.