Steps will be taken for communal harmony in J&K: Farooq

Shops set ablaze in a market of Kishtwar on the Eid. File photo: Special Arrangement

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, whose party heads the government in Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday assured Rajya Sabha that all steps would be taken to maintain communal harmony in the state as BJP expressed concern over Kishtwar communal violence there.

“Everything will be done to maintain communal harmony,” Mr. Abdullah said, noting that the state government is already getting the incident inquired into by a former judge of the High Court.

He said the government will act after getting the recommendations.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Avinash Rai Khanna (BJP) demanded due compensation to the affected persons, including businessmen, due to Kishtwar violence.

He said business establishments were looted and set on fire. Now, businessmen have no means to start them afresh.

Mr. Khanna also wondered why the DIG and the SSP have not been suspended so far even though the Home Minister has quit.

Members from the BJP associated with Mr. Khanna on the issue.

J&K Home Minister Sajad Kitchloo had resigned owning moral responsibility after the communal violence in Kishtwar that took three lives. The issue had led to a huge political controversy in August, when the state government did not allow BJP leader Arun Jaitley to tour Kishtwar.