Farooq Abdullah Says 'Terrorists Shouldn't Be Killed, Instead...', Sharad Pawar, J&K BJP React

Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference ignited political controversy on Saturday by suggesting that terrorists should be captured rather than killed, in order to expose the masterminds behind the recent wave of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir stressed that interrogating captured terrorists could yield valuable information about the wider networks behind these attacks.

Photo Credit: PTI

Abdullah also called for an investigation into the Budgam terror attack, expressing doubts that it may have been carried out by those attempting to destabilise the Jammu and Kashmir government.

"It should be investigated. How is it that the government has come and this is happening? I have a doubt that it is done by the people who were trying to destabilise the government...If they (terrorists) are caught, then we will know who is behind this. They should not be killed; they should be captured and asked who is behind them...We should check if there is an agency that is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah," Abdullah told news agency ANI.

When asked if Pakistan should be blamed for every terrorist attack in J&K, including the recent Budgam incident, Abdullah replied, "There is no question of this; I would say that there should be an investigation into this."

In response to Abdullah's statement, NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar remarked that the Centre should take it seriously.

"Farooq Abdullah is the tallest personality of Jammu and Kashmir...He has dedicated his life to serving the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I have no doubt about his integrity and honesty. If such a leader is making any statement, then the central government, especially the home ministry, should take it seriously and work on how to resolve the situation," Pawar stated in Maharashtra's Baramati.

BJP's Ravinder Raina challenged Abdullah, saying, "Farooq Abdullah knows that this terrorism is coming from Pakistan... This is a well-known fact. What is there to investigate in this? He knows that the terrorist attacks occurring in Jammu and Kashmir involve Pakistan and terrorist organisations... We should all support our army, police, and security forces... We must unite against those who are the enemies of humanity."

Former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta previously characterised the attack as a cowardly act during festivities.

"There are some people here who are acting according to the instructions of Pakistan; this is a cowardly attack on a festive occasion. This is wrong... there is a need to identify those carrying out these attacks. Many people here still work as Over Ground Workers and Underground Workers," he said.