Politicians pampering militancy to blackmail Delhi: Governor Malik

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday accused politicians of pampering militancy for political reasons in order to ‘Blackmail and keep New Delhi under pressure’.

Malik made the controversial comment while addressing a Kissan Mela in Jammu district’s Akhnoor accusing Mehbooba Mufti of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Omar Abdullah of the National Conference (NC) of ‘double standards.’

“The leaders of Jammu and Kashmir want the youths get killed so that they keep New Delhi under pressure,” he said, as per reported published in a leading agency.

“This misconception was cleared by me during the municipal and panchayat polls, and conveyed a message that New Delhi is not to come under pressure. New Delhi will not come under pressure of blackmail now. If bullets will be fired, no bouquets will be send from here,” he said.

Without naming former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Malik said one such lady politician had started reaching the homes of militants even before the news about their death in gunfights were confirmed.

He said Jammu and Kashmir politicians make promises they can never implement.

“Through such promises, these politicians try to mount pressure on the Centre, but they must understand that whenever bullets are fired, our security forces will not respond with bouquets.”

Omar Abdullah hit back at Malik and advised him to focus on work instead of indulging in politics.

Omar, taking to Twitter, reacted: “Please stop with the insults & snide remarks Mr Governor. They do not behove a person in your position. It is only my respect for the office you occupy that stops me from repeating what all you told me when we met. @jandkgovernor. Please stop playing politics & focus on your work.”

The PDP too tweeted, “Not allowing a democratic government to function & talking of panchayat as empowerment of democracy without participation of people & parties! Dissolving assembly unethically is personal empowerment not boycott.”

On Thursday, Malik said that he was ashamed to see rampant corruption in the state which kept away industrialists and investors and vowed to send corrupt officials to jail.