Kalakote, Dec 23 (KNS): Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana on Wednesday assailed PDP-BJP coalition for using Village Defence Committees as political militia to silence dissent, adding that an atmosphere of insecurity has been created to further sinister political agenda.
Interacting with a large number of mourners at the residence of the assassinated Block Youth National Conference President Kalakote Choudhry Ishtiyaq in Kesar Gala Village, Kalakote Assembly Constituency of Rajouri district this afternoon, Rana said that the coalition government is showing worst type of political intolerance by gauging the voice of dissent.
The visiting leaders were informed by the local Youth National Conference activists that Ishtiyaq Choudhry had publicly apprehended threat to his life on 24th November at Sunderbani during a function held to welcome youngsters in the party. They said that some powerful political entities were feeling threatened of his growing popularity as during short span of his political career he had endeared himself with the people. They also described Choudhry as a public spirited leader who never tolerated injustice and exploitation.
The Provincial President reiterated time bound judicial inquiry into the killing of the youth leader by a sitting High Court Judge and said that truth must come out as such incidents have very serious ramifications for the political discourse across the state. National Conference, he said, cannot be coerced by such machinations, as it braved numerous challenges and offered valuable sacrifices to keep the flag of democracy aloft.
Rana conveyed condolences on behalf of the President National Conference Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah to the bereaved family, saying the entire cadre was with them at this hour of grief. He said the party leadership and workers were anguished over the dastardly act that has unfolded the gruesome face of anti-democratic forces.
The Provincial President was accompanied by Deputy Speaker Legislative Assembly Nazir Gurezi besides State Vice President Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari, State Secretary Th Rachpal Singh, Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri, MLC, Provincial Youth National Conference President Ajaz Jan and District President NC Ramban Sajjad Shaheen.
Expressing profound shock over the alleged murder, Nazir Gurezi said that no amount of compensation can be substitute to the young life, who had made a niche for himself by espousing the cause of poor people of the area.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari described the killing as a barbarous act and sought severe punishment to the murderer. He said the circumstances leading to the killing of a young leader, whose fault was just to raise his voice against irrational distribution of ration among poor, and exposure of those behind the heinous crime.
Thakur Rachpal Singh described the death of Choudhry as a huge loss and saying with his passing away a vacuum has been created in the youth wing which is hard to fill. He said the murder has sent shock waves among the people irrespective of caste, creed and color.
Expressing shock over the brutal murder, Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri, MLC said National Conference cannot be deterred by coercive tactics. He sought the hidden players behind the cowardly act to be exposed and punished.
Recalling dynamism of the deceased leader, Provincial Youth National Conference Ajaz Jan said that he had galvanized young people to fight against injustice and was politically very active in the district. He said Choudhry possessed enviable leadership qualities and he worked all along for the just cause of his people.
“But for cruel destiny, Youth National Conference is deprived of a dynamic leader whose political future was very bright given his commitment to public welfare”, Jan said, adding that the sacrifice of Choudhry will not go waste as the young workers of the area will carry forward the mission he had taken up against exploiters
Jan described the death of Choudhry as a huge loss to the Youth National Conference.
Provincial Vice President Bashir Ahmed Wani described the killing of Choudhry Ishtiyaq as huge loss to the party.
While paying tribute to Choudhry, Sajjad Shaheen said that the contribution of the deceased young leader will be inspiration for others to raise their against injustice and exploitation.
The National Conference leaders spent quite a time with the bereaved family, consoled them and prayed for peace to the departed soul.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included former legislator Mohammed Aslam Khan, Bushan Uppal, Manzoor Malik, Lokesh Sharma, Yashuvardhan Singh, Buti Ram Abrol, Jeetendra Singh Chib, Mohammed Rafiq Mir and Bansi Lal Sharma. (KNS)