Demand for withdrawal of FIRs against stone-pelters cannot be justified
Srinagar, Mar 10 (JKNS): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir spokesperson Altaf Thakur on Tuesday said that attempts to equate the protest held at Lal Chowk condemning the recent Pahalgam terror attack with the mourning procession over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei were “misleading and unacceptable.”
In a statement, Thakur said the protest at Lal Chowk was a spontaneous expression of grief and anger against terrorism and was aimed at condemning the Pahalgam attack.
“The protest against the Pahalgam attack was against terrorism. On the first day, the authorities allowed people to hold a peaceful demonstration, which concluded without any incident,” he said.
However, Thakur alleged that on the second day, some “anti-peace elements” tried to hijack the gathering by raising provocative slogans, forcing the administration to impose restrictions in the area.
“There can be no compromise on maintaining law and order. Any attempt to disturb peace or incite violence under the garb of protest is unacceptable,” he said.
The BJP leader also criticized certain voices demanding the withdrawal of FIRs against individuals who allegedly resorted to stone-pelting during the protests.
“Some people are demanding the withdrawal of FIRs against those who resorted to stone-pelting. Such demands are unacceptable. Violence and vandalism cannot be justified in any manner,” Thakur said.
Referring to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Thakur said that while Ayatollah Khamenei was regarded as a Rehbar by many and his death was being mourned, the two situations should not be compared.
“India has always maintained friendly and cordial relations with Iran. While we mourn the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, it is wrong to draw comparisons between a mourning procession and a protest against terrorism,” he added.
Thakur urged people to maintain peace and not allow vested interests to exploit sensitive situations to disturb harmony in the Valley. (JKNS)
