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LA unanimously condemns attack on Dr Farooq, seeks fair probe
From the Assembly
Early Times Report

Jammu, Mar 28: Cutting across party lines, members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Saturday unanimously condemned the March 11 assassination attempt on former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah, describing it as a serious breach of security and an attack on a senior national leader.
Members of the House, irrespective of their party affiliation, hailed Dr Abdullah as a towering leader who has risen above religious affiliations and served the nation both domestically and at international platforms, including the United Nations.
Concluding the discussion, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said the Assembly had sent a strong and unequivocal message to the authorities, calling for a fair and transparent investigation into the incident.
“There is a sense of the House that a thorough and impartial inquiry must be conducted. We hope that those at the helm of affairs will ensure justice and that exemplary punishment is awarded to the attacker so that such incidents are not repeated in the future,” the Speaker said.
Rather also praised Farooq Abdullah’s contributions as Chief Minister, particularly during challenging times, noting his efforts in advancing national interests. However, he expressed concern over the manner in which the accused was handled after the incident.
Earlier, soon after the House convened, NC legislators led by Salman Sagar moved an adjournment motion seeking discussion on the attack. While the Speaker declined the motion, citing procedural rules, he allowed a discussion considering the seriousness of the matter.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Surjit Singh Slathia supported the discussion, stating that the issue was a matter of concern for the entire House, irrespective of party affiliations.
Initiating the debate, NC MLA Salman Sagar termed the attack “highly condemnable” and demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting or retired High Court judge.
BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma also described Abdullah as a leader above religious considerations. “He is a tall leader who does not require validation from anyone. The incident must be thoroughly investigated to determine how and why it happened, and why it appeared to have been taken lightly,” Sharma said.
In total, 25 MLAs and two ministers participated in the discussion, reflecting the widespread concern over the incident.
People's Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra termed the attack a “security collapse” and described Abdullah as a guiding force for many in the political sphere.
The assassination attempt took place on the night of March 11, when a man identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal allegedly tried to attack Abdullah during a wedding function at a banquet hall in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu.
Several members raised concerns over the absence of adequate security arrangements at the venue, including the lack of police presence and metal detectors.