Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Apr 18: Reitera-ting that guilty in Handwara and Kupwara incidents would be punished, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today appealed youth to maintain calm for restoring peace, which, she said, is pre-requisite for development in the State.
“If there is peace, there will be development, happiness, tourism and people will lead a prosperous life. And if God forbid, there is no peace, our people would be the worst sufferers,” she said while talking to media persons on the sidelines of SKUAST-Jammu Convocation, here today.
Making an appeal to the people, particularly youth and their parents for restoring peace by maintaining a calm, the Chief Minister promised severe punishment to the wrong doers responsible for incidents in Handwara and Kupwara.
“Peace and tranquility in the State are a prerequisite for development and that is why I appeal to the youth, parents and their families that help us in restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir so that the State can develop and the miseries of the State should go away,” she said in response to another query.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who was also present on the occasion, alleged a conspiracy behind the recent spurt of violence in Kashmir valley to destabilize the coalition Government.
“Definitely there is a conspiracy by anti-national and anti-people elements to disturb peace in areas like Kupwara and Handwara. These areas remained peaceful when there was turmoil in other parts of the Valley,” he said.
Alleging that anti-peace elements succeeded in creating rumours, which ultimately led to the unfortunate situation and violence, the Dy Chief Minister, however, said that rumour-mongers will be taken to task and punished.
When asked what action would be taken against the rumour mongers, he said, “Definitely the law will take its own course and everything shall be taken care of once peace is fully restored.”
Dr Nirmal Singh also echoed the Chief Minister’s assertion that aspirations of the people would be fulfilled only when there was peace in the State and it was the duty of every person to maintain peace.
“We went to Handwara with the Chief Minister and definitely tension is there. Kupwara is a peaceful area. The violence is very unfortunate. Government is ensuring that this type of situation does not arise in future,” he said.
Pertinent to mention that violent protests broke out in Kashmir last Tuesday over the alleged molestation of a girl by an Army soldier. The girl, however, has denied that she was molested.
Three persons including a woman were killed in firing by security forces on violent protesters on Tuesday while two more persons were killed in separate security forces action against protesters on Wednesday at Drugmulla and on Friday at Natnusa.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel