Draw a line or face Bukhari's fate: BJP leader Lal Singh warns Kashmiri journalists
Srinagar, Jun 23 (IBNS): Triggering row, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Minister Lal Singh has warned journalists of the state by asking them to "draw a line" if they do not want to face the fate of journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead by terrorists few days ago, media reports said.
Singh made the comment during a recent press conference.
The BJP leader has been quoted by The Indian Express as saying, "Kashmiri journalists have created an erroneous atmosphere and I would like to ask them to draw a line…You want to live like what happened to Basharat (Shujaat Bukhari)…Take care of yourselves and draw a line so that the brotherhood is not broken and it is maintained so that progress and development is ensured."
Just two days before Eid al-Fitr, Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead outside his office by terrorists in Srinagar.
Singh's comment has drawn immediate criticism from the National Conference (NC).
The NC has tweeted to say, "National Conference strongly condemns the outrageous remarks and threatening of Kashmiri journalists by BJP Leader and MLA Chaudhry Lal Singh. This merits immediate cognisance by the @JmuKmrPolice. We hope the law isn't subverted - Party Spokesperson."
National Conference strongly condemns the outrageous remarks and threatening of Kashmiri journalists by BJP Leader and MLA Chaudhry Lal Singh. This merits immediate cognisance by the @JmuKmrPolice. We hope the law isn't subverted - Party Spokesperson.
— JKNC (@JKNC_) June 23, 2018
Responding to Singh's comment, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and NC leader, Omar Abdullah, tweeted, "Dear journalists, your colleagues in Kashmir just got threatened by a @BJP4India MLA. It seems Shujaat’s death is now a tool for goons to use to threaten other journalists."
Dear journalists, your colleagues in Kashmir just got threatened by a @BJP4India MLA. It seems Shujaat’s death is now a tool for goons to use to threaten other journalists. https://t.co/LCLeWnHAK7
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 23, 2018
Lal Singh was earlier embroiled into a controversy after he had supported the accused in Kathua rape case, in which a minor was a victim.
Following widespread criticism, he had to resign as the minister.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
