Political parties and other organisations have condemned derogatory remarks made by the BJP MLA Chaudary Lal Singh against the Kashmiri journalists and have termed it as a serious threat to state’s communal harmony.
General secretary of Peoples Democratic Party Mansoor Hussain Sohrawardy urged Governor N N Vohra to immediately book and arrest the former minister and BJP leader.
“Keeping in view Lal Singh continuous rants against the people of Kashmir and trying to stoke the communal passions in the state, it is highly unfortunate that elements like him are allowed to roam freely,” he said. “Singh through one way or the other has been in the forefront to create a communal rift in the state between the Hindus and Muslims and now has launched an offensive against the most important pillar of the democracy. His statement against the scribes is condemnable, bizarre and malicious and merit immediate action against him as per the law of the land.”
He said, “Singh at the time of heinous rape and murder case of Rasana also tried to fish in the troubled waters and made desperate attempts to give communal color to the heinous act committed against an 8-year-old innocent child of Kuthua. PDP at that time too demanded action against him and succeeded in getting him sacked from the council of ministers. Lal Singh’s brother is already facing charges for his derogatory remarks against the former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and was arrested in the recent past.”
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
National Conference strongly condemned the outrageous remarks of Chaudhary Lal Singh saying this was a brazen attempt to muzzle the media in Kashmir.
In a statement NC state spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu said, ” Lal Singh’s open threat to the media fraternity in Kashmir has exposed an intolerant, vituperative and criminal mindset that threatens to subvert freedom of speech and democracy in the state. We condemn this outrageous threat in the strongest of terms. It should be treated as a criminal attempt to incite violence against journalists and the J&K Police should register an FIR under the relevant statutes of the law. There is absolutely no legal excuse for inaction in this case and an attempt to brush this under the carpet would be unacceptable and will discredit both the writ of the Administration and also muzzle free speech in the state”, he said.
“Chaudhry Lal Singh is a habitual offender who was forced to resign for his role in shielding the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case after the case received national media outrage. He harbours a strong sense of vengeance against the media fraternity in the state who exposed him and his colleague that eventually resulted in his resignation being sought. BJP has failed to take action against Lal Singh despite repeated instances of him crossing the red line and trying to vitiate the atmosphere in the state. A continued failure to take action against him would amount to BJP being complicit in his statements and actions,” he added.
ER RASHID
Condemning BJP leader Lal Singh for his “shameful threat” to Kashmiris journalists, independent MLA Er Rashid has said that Lal Singh has exposed the dirty mindset of communal and criminal forces. “Whatsoever Lal Singh has been doing from day one after Kathua rape and murder case, he has complete blessings of his masters in New Delhi and has been given a free hand to use even tri-color to give Rasana incident a communal color. Everyone knows how difficult it is for any journalist to work in conflict zones like Kashmir. Threatening journalists by someone who has been a minister and is a sitting MLA is unacceptable and administration must ensure action against him. Lal Singh proved so ignorant by saying let Kashmiri journalists not forget what fate Basharat Bukhari met, forgetting that Basharat Bukhari was his colleague in the cabinet and Shujat was his brother. His statement makes one to point fingers towards Lal Singh as whatsoever he was talking seemed as if he knew why, how and who killed Shujaat Bukhari”.
JAMMU AND KASHMIR PRADESH CONGRESS COMMITTEE
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) said that Lal Singh’s name should be included in the investigations going on in the murder of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari.
“His threat to Kashmir journalist indicate he is involved in conspiracy hatched to murder Shujaat Bukhari,” JKPPC, vice-president, G N Monga said and condemned Singh’s threat to Kashmir journalist.
Terming Singh as “hooligan,” Monga said, “Congress strongly condemns the outrageous remarks and threatening of Kashmiri journalists and immediate FIR against the BJP leader. He has been asked by BJP to give threats to Kashmiri journalists. His name should be included in probe going on in the murder of Shujaat Bukhari.”
JAMMU AND KASHMIR PRESS ASSOCIATION
The executive members of J&K Press Association held an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of its president GH Kaloo today and termed the statement of Lal Singh as an open assault on fourth estate and condemned it in unequivocal terms.
“Media has remained under attack in Kashmir. We lost many precious Journalists in the past and the wounds caused due to Shujat Bukhari’s cold blooded murder are yet in the healing stage but Singh’s open threat is a big challenge to the freedom of press and violation of the freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution of India. His statement is pregnant with startling revelations which must help to the Investigating Agencies engaged in collecting evidence to nab the culprits responsible for the elimination of renowned Journalist in the most sensitive area of the state. The JKPA reserves right to proceed against Lal Singh legally for open threat to media which tantamounts to the muzzling of Press and threat to the lives of journalists working in strained circumstances in Kashmir,” Kaloo said in a statement .
JAMMU & KASHMIR RTI MOVEMENT
Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement has demanded stern action against BJP MLA and former Minister Lal Singh.
” Lal Singh’s statement is not only a direct threat to the Kashmir based media but he must be questioned by police for using such criminal words that he related with assassination of Shujaat Bukhari ” said Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat founder chairman of RTI Movement.