SRINAGAR National Conference on Saturday strongly condemned the outrageous remarks of BJP Leader and Former Minister, Chaudhary Lal Singh and demanded FIR against him while PDP sought his immediate arrest.
Chaudhary Lal Singh warned the journalists representing Kashmir media of Shujaat-like incident.
In a statement issued here, NC State Spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu said Lal Singhs open threat to the media fraternity in Kashmir had exposed an intolerant, vituperative and criminal mindset that threatens to subvert freedom of speech and democracy in the State.
We condemn this outrageous threat in the strongest of terms. It should be treated as a criminal attempt to incite violence against journalists and the J&K Police should register an FIR under the relevant statutes of the law. There is absolutely no legal excuse for inaction in this case and an attempt to brush this under the carpet would be unacceptable and will discredit both the writ of the Administration and also muzzle free speech in the State, the NC State Spokesperson said in the statement.
Chaudhry Lal Singh is a habitual offender who was forced to resign for his role in shielding the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case after the case received national media outrage. He harbours a strong sense of vengeance against the media fraternity in the State who exposed him and his colleague that eventually resulted in his resignation being sought. BJP has failed to take action against Lal Singh despite repeated instances of him crossing the red line and trying to vitiate the atmosphere in the State. A continued failure to take action against him would amount to BJP being complicit in his statements and actions, the NC State Spokesperson
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday urged Governor NN Vohra to immediately book and arrest former minister and BJP leader Choudary Lal Singh for his derogatory remarks against the Kashmiri journalists, terming him a serious threat to states communal harmony.
In a statement issued here, PDP General Secretary Mansoor Hussain Sohrawardy said that keeping in view Lal Singh continuous rants against the people of Kashmir and trying to stoke the communal passions in the state, it is highly unfortunate that elements like him are allowed to roam freely.
The party added that Singh through one way or the other has been in the forefront to create a communal rift in the state between the Hindus and Muslims and now has launched an offensive against the most important pillar of the democracy. His statement against the scribes is condemnable, bizarre and malicious and merit immediate action against him as per the law of the land. We urge the Governor administration of the state to immediately book and arrest Lal Singh for his instigative comments and jibes against the Kashmiri scribes as vicious elements like him if allowed to roam freely would turn the situation into an inferno and have a tendency to tear apart states secular fabric, Mansoor said.
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