Veteran journalist and communist leader Krishan Dev Sethi on Friday said that killing of individuals “merely because of difference of opinion” is condemnable.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir over the killing of editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir newspaper Shujaat Bukhari by unidentified gunmen outside his office in Srinagar last evening, Sethi said, “I believe that murder of an individual for holding a different opinion should be condemned by one and all.”
Recounting his days with late Bukhari at Kashmir Times group, Sethi said, “He was a proficient writer and an advocate of peace. He also edited some magazines and during his stint in journalism he never favoured any ideology. I was pained to know about his demise. It is a personal loss to me.”
“All journalists, social activists, political people should stand against his killers,” Sethi said.
He said the killing of the journalists in Jammu and Kashmir was not something new. “I have seen a number of journalists who were consumed by the violence. Whoever killed them, militants or agencies, we always stood against oppression and repression. And we have to stand against the killers of Shujaat Bukhari as well,” he said.
On the present situation in Kashmir, Sethi said, “Kashmir of today is fast going into the hands of some people who are killing others just because they hate them for not accepting their viewpoint.”
He said: “I believe this new phenomenon in Valley is neither a movement nor a political ideology. Murdering people in the name of religion or ideology has nothing to do with freedom,” he said.
He said at a time when ceasefire has been announced, both separatists and mainstream leaders should come to a platform and find a solution to Kashmir issue through negotiation. “But this killing of a prominent journalist will hinder the negotiations,” he added.