Srinagar: After “regretting” his anti-Kashmir remarks while terming the “video doctored”, cabinet minister for Industries and Commerce in PDP led coalition government Chander Prakash Ganga Friday said that his target in video was National Conference.
Chander Prakash Ganga
Accusing certain section of media of twisting his statement, Ganga said his entire focus was on NC.
“My entire focus was targeted at the National Conference which had made a statement on the issue (of stone pelting),” he told Hindustan Times.
“The video which has gone viral on social sites has been doctored. I had said the enemies of the country, either from Pakistan or internal, should be dealt with sternly and for them bullet for bullet should be the approach. I had spoken about Farooq Abdullah, who termed stone-throwers as nationalist. The video is doctored,” HT quotes Ganga having said them over phone.
Reacting to Ganga’s assertions, NC state spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu told Kashmir Life people like Ganga have thrived on institutionalizing an anti-Kashmir and anti-Muslim sentiments in the state politics.
“People like Ganga and the party he represents have thrived on institutionalizing an anti-Kashmir and anti-Muslim sentiments in the state’s politics,” Junaid told Kashmir Life.
Reiterating the party stand, he said NC will confront the tyranny at all costs. “ To them every Kashmiri Muslim is a stone pelter and deserves a bullet-no questions asked. We are going to side by our people and will confront this tyranny and bigotry at all costs. Unapologetically.”
The controversy was stoked earlier when Ganga in a recorded video justified use of brute force against stone pelters and termed them as “anti-nationals”.
“They are traitors, whether they have come from Pakistan or they live here,” Ganga is heard saying in the video. “There is only one remedy and that is bullets.” He says he is a man who does not talk in twisted language – ‘I talk straight and simple.’
