 Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 3: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday condemned the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and called for calm across the Kashmir Valley, even as he acknowledged that anti-social elements were exploiting the charged atmosphere to pursue "nefarious designs."
Addressing the public amid a wave of protests that have swept the Valley since Khamenei's death, Abdullah urged citizens to channel their grief and anger through lawful, peaceful means — and warned against allowing the situation to spiral into disorder.
"Some elements are trying to spoil the atmosphere, and reports of incidents are coming in from certain places," the Chief Minister said while interacting with media persons here this afternoon.
“I do not want any misuse of force by the police or central paramilitary forces resulting in people getting injured or, God forbid, anyone losing their life. That would be deeply unfortunate."
While expressing understanding of public sentiment, Abdullah stressed the importance of emotional restraint at a volatile time.
“I can understand their emotions — how can one not feel angry? But in such circumstances, it is most important to keep those emotions in check," he said, appealing to religious and community leaders to guide their followers toward peace.
"You have every right to express your anger, resentment, and your faith — but you must keep the law in mind. Please do not take the law into your own hands," he added.
The Chief Minister also flagged reports of stone-pelting at several locations since Monday. He cautioned that such incidents were forcing the government's hand. "Due to such incidents, the government is compelled to take stricter measures," he said, while reiterating that the administration's aim was to restore normalcy and allow citizens to go about their lives freely and peacefully at the earliest.
Abdullah further noted that while some protest permissions had been granted, others had subsequently been withdrawn, underscoring the need for demonstrations to be conducted in a manner that did not endanger other citizens. |
