Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said it is not fair to view every Kashmiri as a terrorist or a terror associate. “Every person in J&K is not a terrorist or associated with terrorists”, he said.
After the special convocation of the University of Jammu, Omar was replying to questions of reporters here in the backdrop of the Delhi blast.
He said such attacks are “highly condemnable and those responsible for the attack should be severely punished, while also making sure that innocent people are kept out of it”.
“No religion can justify the killing of innocents and such brutality. Investigations will continue, but we must remember one thing, not every resident of Jammu and Kashmir is a terrorist or associated with terrorism. These are only a few people who have always ruined peace and brotherhood. When we look at every resident of J&K and every Kashmiri Muslim with suspicion and think that each one of them is a terrorist, it is difficult to keep the people on the right track,” the Chief Minister said.
Commenting on the alleged involvement of doctors and professionals in the Delhi blast, Omar said, “Have we not seen an associate professor of a university before this? Who says that educated people don’t get involved in such things? They do. I am shocked by the fact that, though they were expelled from the job, what kind of investigation was undertaken after that? Why was the prosecution not carried out? We can only help the central government to keep the situation normal, and we are doing that,” he said.
Addressing the convocation, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha urged the society to actively counter terrorism because it is a multifaceted challenge, and society plays a critical role in recognising and reporting suspicious terror activities and countering the radicalisation efforts. “If the society doesn’t stand up strongly against terrorists, then it will become an existential threat to the society and destroy its stability, peace, and progress”.
“Terrorism poses a fundamental threat to the peace and progress and the people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered its brunt for more than three decades. But now the youth here are increasingly dreaming of and working towards goals similar to those in the rest of the country, and desire a better life and career”, he said.
“I want to request the enlightened people that it is the need of the hour to expose those who give shelter to terrorists and create extremist narratives. You must stand against such elements,” the LG said.
Sinha said that the security forces are determined to dismantle the terror ecosystem, but society too must join the fight and discharge its duties.
The LG urged students and faculty to embrace the change, focus on skill-first curriculum, and keep pace with the evolving trends to meet the demands of India’s economy and the society.