Some people trying to infiltrate mourning masses to vitiate atmosphere: CM Omar

Jammu, Mar 3: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that some people were trying to infiltrate the mourners in J&K (with the intention) to disturb the peace and vitiate the atmosphere, evolving in the aftermath of Iran developments.

While condemning the atrocious attack on Iran by US-Israel forces and killing Iranís supreme leader, in violation of all international laws, he cautioned the people of J&K against such elements trying to exploit their emotions so as to vitiate the situation.

CM Omar asked people to express their anger and grief in a peaceful manner, without taking law into their own hands.

He was responding to media queries after addressing the day-long National Governance Conference organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, at the Convention Centre, Jammu.

ìFirst of all, I offer my condolences and express heartfelt, sincere sympathies with the people of Iran and condemn the attack. At the same time, in Jammu and Kashmir, I humbly request and appeal to my own people to kindly not let the situation go out of hand and worsen. Some people are trying to infiltrate (the mourning people) to vitiate the situation. We have been receiving inputs about such incidents taking place at certain places (in Kashmir),î the Chief Minister said, when asked about the comment of National Conference (NC) MP Aga Syed Ruhullah.

Ruhullah had criticised the Chief Minister for not condemning the attack on Iran and the assassination of Iranís supreme leader.

In the same breath, CM Omar said that he did not want the Police or other law enforcing agencies to resort to excessive force on people.

ìI donít want it to happen. It would be very unfortunate if there was excessive or misuse of force by the Police or other Central Para Military Forces (CPMFs) resulting in injuries to the people or, God forbid, death (of a civilian). I can well understand the emotions of (mourning) people, their grief and anger. In the present circumstances, the most important thing is to control the emotions,î the CM said.

ìTherefore, I request all those people and their leaders, especially the religious leaders to give vent to their anger and grief without taking law into their hands,î he said.

ìIn Iran, what kind of government should be in place ñ that call has to be taken by the people of Iran. As the people of America decide as to who will be their President; the people of Israel take a call who will run their government and the people of India decide as to who will be the Prime Minister (of India), similarly, the people of Iran should, themselves, decide about their government,î CM Omar said about the developments unfolding in Iran.

He said that the use of force from outside or its demonstration from outside through bombardment to effect a regime-change was against every tenet of International Law.

ìNo International Law permits it. First of all, the supreme leader of Iran was assassinated in such an atrocious manner and then the members of his family were brutally killed. Tell me, which law permitted America or Israel to do so? If one goes by their (US-Israel) act, then there is nothing wrong with what Russia has done in Ukraine. In this scenario, similar acts of other countries too cannot be questioned. Tomorrow if India decides and then enters a neighbouring country, then that will also be justified,î CM Omar said, questioning the vicious act of the United States and Israel to attack Iran, in violation of its sovereignty and cruelly assassinating the top leadership of Iran against all international laws.

About the arrangements for the repatriation of J&K citizens, including students, the CM said that the J&K government was in close coordination with the Ministry for External Affairs (MEA). ìMajority of our students and other citizens, who are in Iran, have been relocated to safer areas. However, some final year MBBS students in certain hospitals were not willing to leave the place. I humbly request them to strictly follow the guidelines, advisory of our embassy there. If the embassy advises them to leave Iran and move to safer places, I feel, J&K citizens should listen to this advisory and obey it,î he said.

About Ruhullahís another comment that if celebrations were allowed at Lal Chowk, the mourning should also be allowed, the CM said, ìI too share the same viewpoint. However, unfortunately, some people who are taking law into their own hands, have infiltrated the crowd of mourners. Since yesterday we have been receiving news of stone-pelting at certain places. At one place, attempts were made to physically assault a woman DySP (Deputy Superintendent of Police). Given this scenario, the government is forced to adopt stringent measures. Our effort is to create a situation as early as possible where the people can freely express their emotions of anger and grief.î

About the ongoing war, he said that it was not in the interest of anyone.

ìSee, Israel and America attacked Iran ñ this was a wrong step. In retaliation, what Iran did by attacking UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries is also not correct. This has led to the spiralling of war. In our neighbourhood, Pakistan and Afghanistan are already engaged in bombarding each otherís territory. War can never be a solution to any problem. As Iíve said earlier, if the people of Iran are not happy with their regime, it is Iranian peopleís exclusive right to change it. How they want to change it – is up to them,î CM Omar said.

However, the CM did not respond to a query pertaining to the write-up of AICC leader Sonia Gandhi in a national newspaper questioning the silence of the central government over the killing of Iranís supreme leader in the US-Israel attack.

ìI have just come out of this workshop and I have not yet seen or read it,î he said.