JK Assembly Adopts Resolution For Peace in the Wake of Communal Violence in Udhampur

NEW DELHI: ?Against the backdrop of fresh communal flare-up in Udhampur district, the J?ammu and Kashmir ?legislature Friday adopted a resolution, moved by the former chief minister Omar Abdullah denouncing all forms of extremism.

"The House urges leadership at the national level across the party lines and seeks the support of the people throughout the country in creating an environment of peace and harmony so that all sections of the society become real stakeholders in the idea of India," the resolution, which was passed by the J&K Assembly, reads.

Passions have flared up in Jammu region following the recovery of three cow carcasses on Thursday morning from Chenani. Although the carcasses bore no visible external injuries, rumours of cow slaughter spread in the area, sparking communal tensions.

As shops, government offices and business establishments in Chenani were closed amid fears of violence, the J&K government, for the second time in less than a month, blocked internet services to prevent the tensions from spreading.

Protests also took place in Reasi and Udhampur towns against the alleged bovine slaughter with the agitated residents blocking the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu highway on Thursday, the only all-weather road link which connects the landlocked Valley with the rest of the country.

The affected towns are witnessing a shutdown today called by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party against the alleged bovine slaughter with protestors attempting to block the busy Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

A senior police officer said additional reinforcements have been deployed in Udhampur, Chenani and Reasi towns to maintain law and order and prevent anti-social elements from stoking communal passions.

Earlier, former chief minister Omar Abdullah spoke on yesterday’s episode in the Assembly in which BJP MLAs manhandled independent lawmaker from Kashmir's Langate constituency, Engineer Rashid. Rashid has boycotted Friday's session with his protesters staging a demonstration outside the civil secretariat against the assault.

Speaking during Zero Hour, Omar called for introducing a resolution to ensure communal harmony in the state. “The buzz (of assault on Rashid) has spread across the globe. But let me tell you that this isn’t the real face of J&K. The real face of J&K is the one where Mahatma Gandhi saw a ray of hope in Kashmir.”

"It seems like a well-planned conspiracy to disturb the communal harmony of the state. Internet is blocked in Jammu. Today there is shutdown in Udhampur. We must stand up for our state which has been an example of communal harmony for the rest of the country," he said.

Lauding Omar's move, J&K chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said Kashmir is known for communal harmony before the partition. “To maintain the same harmony, Shiekh Abdullah adopted a different approach towards the Congress and Ali Mohammad Jinnah," he said