National Conference on Tuesday called for putting up a brave and united fight against terrorism, saying the end to this scourge is imperative for lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in the country.

National Conference Provincial President, Devender Singh Rana who was leading the NC rank and file in a sit in Dharna on Residency road here in support of the Jammu Bandh and to protest against the innocent killings of the Amarnath Yatris, unequivocally condemned the attack and said that terrorism has no place in a civilized society. 

“A terrorist has no religion; a terrorist is a terrorist and must be treated as a terrorist”, he said and appealed all to together fight and defeat terrorism.

He said it is a nefarious design to vitiate the secular fabric of the state and we all must unitedly work to thwart this conspiracy against the idea of Jammu and Kashmir and the idea of India. Describing Shri Amarnath ji Yatra as perhaps the only unique pilgrimage across the world which is being performed by one community and facilitated by the another community. “The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is a shining symbol of Kashmiriyat and the valley’s pluralistic ethos that has withstood test of times”, Mr Rana said while exuding confidence that terrorists cannot succeed in breaking the core of Kashmir ethos by such dastardly acts. He said the people of the state and the country will see through the nefarious game plan and remain vigilant against their mechanizations.

“We, in Jammu and Kashmir, should close our ranks in combating terror and isolate the peace inimical elements by further strengthening bonds of amity and brotherhood”, he maintained.

The NC leaders and workers observed two-minute silence over the inhuman killing of seven Amarnathji pilgrims in Anantnag district last evening and prayed for peace to departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear their irreparable loss.

 “The tragedy is gruesome, barbaric and inhuman”, Mr Rana said and vowed to foil the machinations of terrorists to disturb communal harmony and tranquility that has been biggest eyesore for the enemy. He said the dastardly act will not deter the peace-loving people of the State to meet the biggest ever challenge to humanity with courage, fortitude and resilience.

He said Jammu and Kashmir is bleeding profusely and the brutal acts of terror have only strengthened their resolve to combat the menace resolutely. He lauded the unbreakable spirit of the people in maintaining peace, much to the discomfort of peace-breakers who are hell bend to flare up disharmony between various segments of the composite society, and demanded stern action against the perpetrators of the heinous attack that snatched lives of the seven innocent pilgrims. At the same time, he called for soul-searching by the coalition government to find out the security lapses and plug these to ensure incident-free yatra.

The Provincial President sought pro-active approach in fighting divisive forces, saying that safety, security and dignity of the people should be ensured while combating terrorism.

“Our biggest tribute to the Amarnath Yatris who lost their lives at this darkest hour of the state’s history, will be to firm in our resolve to fight the cult of violence and isolate all the divisive forces by maintaining our time-tested unity and amity which is a glorious legacy of National Conference and its towering leader Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah,”, Mr Rana added.

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