Jammu, July 09: Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of J&K National Conference, Jammu on Tuesday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on an army convoy in Kathua district, which resulted in the martyrdom of five soldiers and injuries to five others.
Expressing profound sorrow over the tragic incident, he voiced deep concern about the escalating terrorism in the Jammu region.
In a statement issued here, the senior NC leader criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for its “failure” to effectively control the deteriorating security situation, pointing to multiple recent terrorist incidents across the Jammu region in the past few weeks. He emphasized the urgency of addressing these incidents and ensuring public safety amidst growing fear and insecurity among the population.
“In recent weeks, nearly four major terrorist attacks have been reported in the Jammu region, including ambushes on pilgrims’ buses in Reasi, terrorist strikes in Hiranagar village, Gandoh area of Doda district and Basantgarh area in Udhampur district, and yesterday’s attack in Machedi village, Kathua,” he said. “We cannot afford to lose the lives of our brave soldiers due to the government’s inability to curb terrorism.”
Gupta argued that recent terror attacks refute the government’s claims of ending terrorism in J&K, asserting that the surge in incidents is alarming. He criticized the administration for rhetoric without concrete action, urging a reassessment of security strategies. “There is a need for stronger coordination among security agencies and better support for personnel on the ground,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with the NC’s previous administration headed by the former chief minister Omar Abdullah, Rattan Lal said that terrorism was at its lowest, contrasting it with the current administration’s handling, which he blamed for escalating violence and insecurity in the region. He called for immediate measures to fortify intelligence networks and ensure public safety as essential priorities for the government.
The NC provincial president stressed the necessity of a pragmatic approach to tackle terrorism, saying it government’s responsibility to prioritize citizens’ safety and take decisive action against violence.
