Mehbooba condemns attack on Geelani by Shiv Sainiks

Srinagar, June 11: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti today strongly condemned the alleged attack on breakaway Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani by Shiv Sena activists in Jammu yesterday.

''The act of hooliganism is highly condemnable,'' she said in a statement here.

Ms Mufti said her party has been advocating a battle of ideas and the ''fascist acts'' of some activists of the Shiv Sena only vitiated the atmosphere and were detrimental to democracy.

Nobody should be allowed to force any particular ideology by pressure and take the law in their own hands in the garb of nationalism, she added.

Ms Mufti also condemned the highly provocative statement of some BJP leaders announcing a bounty for those who killed militants or got killed while fighting them in Jammu and Kashmir.

''Such irresponsible statements only add fuel to the fire and could lead to a dangerous situation in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir. There is no force in the BJP's arguement to raise such a hue and cry over the recent escalation of violence in the state as many such incidents took place when the NDA was in power at the Centre,'' she added.

The PDP Chief said instead of trying to draw political mileage by communalising the fragile situation in the state, it should be the endeavour of all the political parties to launch a joint fight against the perpetrators of violence and allow the ongoing peace process to consolidate.

Ms Mufti asked the BJP leadership not to resort to any act that could reverse the gains of the peace process initiated when they were in power.

''Jammu and Kashmir is at present passing through a critical juncture of history and a wrong move by any political party could have dangerous ramifications not only for the state but the whole country as well,'' she added.

The PDP Chief assured the state government of her party's full support to tackle such ''fascist and divisive forces'' interested only in promoting their political interests by resorting to communal polarisation without respecting public sentiment.

UNI