Two days after Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin threatened to turn the Valley into "a graveyard for Indian forces", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday responded saying that the militant would meet the same end as Burhan Wani if he tries to spread violence in Kashmir.
“Any kind of threat suggesting that they will turn Kashmir into a graveyard, they better be aware because the repercussions could be that of what happened to Wani,” said BJP spokesperson Shania NC.
“The Hizbul Mujahideen, as an organisation, and Salahuddin need to realise that this is not an incompetent government that is in power at the Centre in New Delhi. Our Prime Minister has the political will and conviction to take on separatists,” she further added.
In an interview with a daily on Saturday, Syed Salahuddin, one of the top terrorists on India’s most-wanted list, had dismissed the talks as futile and insisted that militancy was the only solution to Kashmir.
“The Kashmiri leadership, people and mujahideen should know there is no formal, peaceful way. There wasn't any option but to launch a target-oriented armed struggle,” he had said.
Salahuddin’s warning had come a day before an all-party delegation led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was to visit Jammu and Kashmir as part of government’s effort to bring normalcy in the Valley.
Talking of the situation in Kashmir since the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani, Salahuddin had said, “For nearly two months, since the killing of Wani, curfew has not been lifted in the region. The entire region has been turned into a concentration camp," he said.
"These sacrifices will not go in vain. The more they resort to use of force, the more they strengthen the movement of separatists and freedom fighters," he added.
Salahuddin, 69, also heads the United Jihad Council, a Pakistan-backed alliance of militant groups which has carried out multiple terror activities in J&K.
He said that talks would not yield any results until India “accepts and recognises Kashmir as a dispute.”
"If you do not accept it as an issue, then what is the need for dialogue," he asked.
Last month, Salahuddin had threatened a nuclear war against India over Kashmir issue. Addressing media in Karachi, Salahuddin had said that there is a great possibility of a nuclear war taking place between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.
