Attack on Farooq Abdullah not ordinary incident, needs fair probe: Speaker

Jammu, Mar 28: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Saturday termed the attack on senior political leader Farooq Abdullah as a serious and “not an ordinary” incident, stressing that it warrants a fair and transparent investigation.

Addressing the House in Jammu, Rather, per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the incident was an attack on the “soul of democracy” and must send a strong message to those responsible for maintaining law and order.

He said Farooq Abdullah needs no introduction, highlighting his national and international stature and contributions over the years.

He said members across party lines spoke with one voice, reflecting the sentiments of the people they represent. “Members did not speak individually, but as representatives of the people, who are demanding a fair and credible probe,” he said.

Raising concerns over the viral video of the accused, the Speaker said the individual appeared unusually composed, showed no remorse and spoke confidently, which was inconsistent with the gravity of the offence.

He said the manner in which the accused was handled appeared different from established police procedures in such serious cases.

“The people want answers. Questions have arisen and there is no doubt about that. A fair investigation is necessary to address these concerns,” Rather said.

He expressed gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for promptly reaching out to Farooq Abdullah and assuring a proper inquiry, saying their intervention has helped reassure both the leader and the public.

The Speaker said the House expects that the investigation will be conducted thoroughly and transparently and that those responsible will be punished in a manner that deters such acts in future.

“The House wants justice to be done in a way that satisfies the people and ensures that such incidents are not repeated,” he added.