J&K Assembly passes resolution against twin terror attacks

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Sunday passed a resolution against the terror attacks in Samba and Kathua, while urging the Centre to take up the issue with Pakistan.

Pakistan should control terrorism if it wants peace and reconciliation, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed told the J&K Assembly while terming the terror attacks in Kathua and Samba as a “conspiracy” to derail the peace process.

“If they (Pakistan) want peace, reconciliation, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, its establishment must control them (terrorism),” he told the Assembly after the Opposition created a ruckus demanding adjournment of the question hour.

Expressing hope that peace would return to Jammu and Kashmir soon, he said, “People of Jammu and Kashmir have given a mandate. My suggestion is to introduce a resolution to condemn such attacks.

“The peace that was witnessed by the state after 2003, similar peace will return to Jammu and Kashmir, same peace will be restored and the forces which are doing this (such attacks) that we should send a message from the House ...Pakistan is also a victim and their Prime Minister says he cannot do anything to control this,” he said.

“We have a strong will, a strong resolve to control to fight terrorism, if they want peace then they have to control them,” he said.

He said during the tenure of former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf “peace prevailed” on both sides of the border and Line of Control.

The Chief Minister again termed the terrorists from across the border as “non-state actors” and asked, “Who were the people who attacked churches in Karachi, who launched attacks in Peshawar, who is Lakhvi?”

Mufti had on Friday held non-state actors responsible for the attack on the police station in Kathua.

The Chief Minister said the terror attacks that took place in Kathua and Samba in the last 48 hours were nothing new, as such type of attacks have been happening for long.

He also noted that Pakistan itself was a victim of extremism.

“They (terrorists) are not being taught Islam; I don't know what they are being taught so they go out to kill people.

When I took over as the Chief Minister for the first time, they launched an attack on the Raghunath Temple in Jammu.” He said in the past two three years such attacks have taken place with even heads being decapitated on the borders.

Congress Legislative party leader Nawang Rigzin Jora wanted an explanation from the Chief Minister as to why he termed the terrorists as “non-state actors.” Mufti said the House must show a unified face in the wake of such attacks and pass a resolution condemning such attacks in a unanimous voice.

NC stages walkout

Earlier, the opposition National Conference led by Omar Abdullah staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly after their adjournment motion condemning twin terror attacks in Jammu was rejected.

The NC also sought reply from Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for his remarks that non-state actors were involved in the twin terror attacks in Kathua and Samba districts.

NC MLA Devendar Singh Rana had moved a resolution in the House seeking a debate in the Assembly over the terror attacks and CM Muftis' remark.

BJP MLAs also protested and shouted slogans like ‘Pakistan murdabad' in the Assembly and demanded befitting reply to Pakistan.

They were countered by NC members who termed it as “drama”, saying that on the one hand, BJP members are in the government and on the other, they are seeking action against terror attacks.

The resolution was rejected by the Speaker resulting in walkout by NC from the House.