Attacks in south Kashmir raise concerns and question claims of normalcy, say J&K political parties

Representational picture/PTI File

Recent back-to-back attacks in south Kashmir have raised concerns and brought into question the government's claims of having ended militancy from the region, according to National Conference (NC) MP Hasnain Masoodi.

Masoodi expressed his party's condemnation of the attacks while also highlighting the doubts they have cast on the authorities' confidence in Kashmir's security situation.

"A narrative has been built about the security system and the government was very confident that every last diameter of militancy has been obliterated," he told PTI.

"Then the question arises, why do you have three to four incidents within such a short span of time? Who is doing this? Therefore, it is a matter of concern and it poses questions to the authorities that were very confident and convincing about the security system."

Over the last six days, militants carried out three attacks in south Kashmir's Shopian, Anantnag, and Pulwama districts. These attacks left several non-local laborers injured.

Regarding the newly-formed national-level opposition alliance named INDIA, in which the NC is a participant, Masoodi stated that its core objective is to protect the Constitution and the country. The alliance aims to strengthen and uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution, which have been eroded, according to Masoodi, by the current ruling party.

The INDIA coalition, comprising 26 opposition parties, plans to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls unitedly against the ruling BJP-led NDA, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasizing that the fight will be "between INDIA and Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

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Masoodi clarified that the coalition is primarily an ideological alliance and not an electoral one. While addressing concerns over the attacks, Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader M Y Tarigami also questioned the claims of normalcy in the region and called for an end to the violence against unarmed civilians and non-local laborers.

Both NC and CPI(M) leaders appealed for measures to protect laborers working in the region and urged the local population to stand up for their safety and dignity. The situation remains tense, and authorities continue to face scrutiny over their security measures in Kashmir.