Jammu, Mar 12: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday strongly condemned the attack on Farooq Abdullah, stating that violence against political leaders is unacceptable in a democratic society and calling for a detailed investigation into the incident.
The reaction came a day after Farooq Abdullah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, narrowly escaped harm when a gunman allegedly fired at him from behind while he was leaving a marriage function in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu on Wednesday night.
Authorities later arrested the accused, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, a resident of Purani Mandi in Jammu. According to police, the suspect claimed he had been waiting for years for an opportunity to target the veteran leader.
During a meeting of party spokespersons in Jammu, BJP leaders expressed concern over the incident and emphasised the need to maintain a healthy political environment in the Union Territory. Party spokesperson Sunil Sethi said differences in politics should be resolved through dialogue and constitutional means rather than violence.
He stressed that such acts threaten peace and democratic functioning and reiterated that the party firmly opposes any attempt to intimidate public representatives. Sethi also demanded a transparent inquiry to establish the circumstances behind the attack.
Another party spokesperson, Tahir Chowdhary, said attacks on political figures create fear and instability, adding that the quick response of security personnel prevented any serious consequences.
BJP legislator Vikram Randhawa, who visited Abdullah’s residence to express solidarity, described the incident as deeply unfortunate. He noted that Jammu has historically been known for communal harmony and said such acts must be thoroughly investigated to determine the motive behind the attack.