Jammu: The People's Democratic Party (PDP) held a protest in Jammu on Friday against recent militant attacks, demanding an explanation for the alarming situation, contrary to the claims by the BJP-led Government of India regarding the restoration of peace in the region.
Led by PDP Additional General Secretary Rajinder Manhas and spokesperson S. Varinder Singh Sonu, dozens of party workers marched from the PDP office at Gandhi Nagar to stage a sit-in near the Jammu airport road.
While the Jammu region had been peaceful, the recent attacks indicate a resurgence of militancy despite the government of India's assertions of normalcy," he stated.
“What type of normalcy is this? The people of Jammu are frightened. The government should wake up from its deep slumber and ensure that militancy is wiped out,” Manhas said.
PDP spokesperson Sonu said the party stands with the government in the fight against militancy. However, he said, “On one hand, the government claimed that militancy has been wiped out with the abrogation of the Article 370 (in 2019) but on the other, new areas, that too in the peaceful Jammu region, are witnessing growing militant activities. This is a failure of the government.”
The government must stop “doing politics”, he said while accusing the government of making hollow claims and asked “what type of new J-K is this where militancy has spread to new areas of hitherto peaceful Jammu region.
“We are concerned over the alarming security situation in Jammu ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra. The attacks reflect a security failure,” Manhas told reporters.
Reportedly, militants struck at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts in the Jammu and Chenab provinces between Sunday and Wednesday, killing nine people, and a CRPF personnel. Seven security personnel, 41 people and a villager were also injured in the attacks.
Two militants were also killed in Kathua, while a massive search operation is on to track down and neutralise the other militants.