National Conference of Jammu and Kashmir MLAs during the Budget Session of the State Legislature | Photo credit: PTI
Crossing the political divide, legislators from Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday condemned the recent assassination attempt on ruling National Conference (NC) President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and demanded the publication of the investigation report. However, many lawmakers have flagged the thinning of security cover and the denial of safe haven to opposition leaders in the Union Territory (UT).
“I thank the entire House for condemning the assassination attempt on Dr Farooq Abdullah (at a wedding reception on March 11 in Jammu). The House needs to know how many have been suspended for possible security breaches. Not even a constable. Investigating agencies, J&K Police and Home Ministry are silent on the matter,” J&K Minister Sakina Itoo told the gathering.
Urging the Speaker to seek an inquiry report and present it to the House of Representatives, Ms. Itoo said, “If Dr. Abdullah is not safe, then no one is safe in J&K. It was Dr. Abdullah, a true supporter of India, who held the Indian flag high in 1996 when people were leaving J&K after the attacks. He decided to jump into the fire to face a large number of militants,” and faced such an important incidents should not happen in the future,” said Ms Itoo, who lost her father in a 1994 militant attack.
Ms. Itoo made the statement on behalf of the J&K government in response to a demand by Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker Waheed ur Rehman Parra to jointly condemn the assassination attempt on Dr. Abdullah by the 63-year-old attacker from Jammu. “Dr Abdullah is a respected figure for all. The House should acknowledge the security failure and ensure necessary corrective measures to prevent such incidents in future,” Mr Parra said.
However, the PDP lawmaker accused the Lt Governor’s administration and the J&K government of failing to provide security to opposition leaders. “While we condemn the attack on Dr Abdullah sahab, we have direct questions for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Why did he threaten the security of senior opposition leaders? Former CM Mehbooba’s house was stolen from her and yet the CM deliberately ignored her claim after the elections,” Mr Parra said.
Describing the security cover for politicians in J&K as “insurable and non-negotiable”, Mr Parra said: “It is these 90 legislators in the House who are protecting the national cause and their security cannot be compromised. The CM must answer why Sajad Lone was served with a vacate notice and the J&K Police must explain why Pradesh Congress Committee (TarqPCC) Security Chief Mr. KarqPCC was ousted. Parra.”
Mr. Karra also highlighted the problem of reducing the security of politicians. “Security lapses cannot be ignored, especially in a sensitive region like J&K. The government must ensure accountability and restore trust. People’s safety and stability must come first, it must not be compromised under any circumstances,” Karra said.
J&K People’s Conference legislator Sajad Lone said governments in J&K were “using security cover for political purposes”. “I recommend civilian honors for the personnel who saved Dr. Abdullah. I and Mrs. Itoo faced this in the family. Whenever such assassination attempts are reported, it freshens my wound. I was not provided security to attend the funeral of my murdered father,” said Mr. Lone, whose father Abdul Ghani Lone was murdered in 2000 in Srinagar.
Mr Lone said there should be no compromise on the security of political leaders. “If someone is not ideologically aligned with you, should they be allowed to be killed? I would like to see statehood restored soon to sort this out,” Mr Lone said. BJP legislator Yudvir Sethi also advocated the right to security cover for all politicians in J&K.
Calling the attack on Abdullah an “unusual matter”, spokesman Abdul Rahim said: “The whole House has spoken from the heart and there is no ambiguity in what members have expressed. People expect accountability and transparency.”
Published – 29 March 2026 00:00 IST
