Omar defends protests by KPs, calls it failure of government

By: Javaid Malik MK

Srinagar

Former Chief Minister and Vice President of National Conference Omar Abdullah in a series of tweets have said that the J & K administration has failed to provide a secure environment to KPs and they have the right to protest.

Calling the use of force including tear smoke shells on KPs as shameful, Omar said that they have the right to protest and express anger as they feel helpless in this situation.

He also said that unfortunately the J & K administration is linking growing tourism to normalcy in Kashmir. He said that normalcy is absence of fear and absence of terror.

In a series of tweets Omar said, “Tourism is not normalcy, it’s a barometer of economic activity. Normalcy is the absence of fear, the absence of terror, the inability of militants to strike at will, the presence of democratic rule & by any yardstick you choose to use, Kashmir is far from normal today. Rahul in his office yesterday, Riyaz Ahmad Thoker, a SPO with J&K police, in his own home today. Targeted killings continue unabated. I can’t condemn this killing strongly enough. May Allah grant Riyaz place in Jannat. It’s shameful that legitimate & justified protests are met with a heavy-handed response. This is not new for the people of Kashmir because when all the administration has is a hammer every problem resembles a nail. If the LG’s Govt can’t protect KPs they  have a right to protest”.