SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday warned that any killings motivated by caste or religion would be met with strict action, evoking the region’s syncretic tradition where “a lion and a goat have drunk water together,” while asserting that the days of “jungle raj” will not be allowed to return to the Union Territory.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Kunzar, Choudhary referred to a recent incident in Ramban without naming it directly, saying such acts raise serious questions.
“This is Jammu and Kashmir, where a lion and a goat have drunk water. You will kill someone in the name of any caste or religion? It will not be tolerated,” the Deputy CM said. “We used to hear outside that there is jungle raj in UP and Bihar. There has never been a jungle raj in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Expressing anguish over the death of a child in the recent incident, Choudhary demanded severe punishment for the perpetrators. “The hope is that this incident should not happen again. This incident should be the last. But how will the death of a child be fulfilled? The people who are the culprits should be punished severely. We expect this from the police department,” he said.
On the political front, the Deputy CM confirmed that a meeting of the INDIA bloc partners is scheduled today, in which Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is attending. “What will be the result of the meeting today? After that, I think we will be able to give a proper confirmation. Before that, it would not be appropriate to say,” he said.
Taking a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Deputy CM accused the previous administration of favouring corporate interests. “Last time, the BJP was a part of the alliance. Take out the entire tenure of the BJP. They gave benefits to so many people. They gave lands to so many big hotels. You will find out for yourself. The thief will tell us that we have done wrong. I think he is being unjust,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister reiterated his party’s grassroots credentials, stating, “The foundation of the National Conference has always been raised by the poor, by the farmers and the labourers. Our election symbol is the plough. It is the solution. It shows what the meaning of the solution is. I think the answer comes from the symbol of the plough.” (KNS)
