Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the case of JKLF chairman Yasin Malik should not be politicised and must be left to the judiciary to decide. He emphasized that Malik has been a consistent advocate of dialogue since renouncing violence.
Abdullah’s remarks came a day after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging a humanitarian approach in Malik’s case, highlighting that he had chosen political engagement over militancy.
Malik, currently serving a life sentence in a terror funding case, was arrested in February 2019 and faces multiple charges, including involvement in the 1990 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed and the attack on IAF personnel at Rawalpora.
“There is no need for politics. Regardless of political ideology, what matters is that he gave up arms and embraced the path of peace. He sought to resolve issues through dialogue and consistently supported it,” Abdullah told reporters when asked about Malik’s case. He stressed that court decisions should be left to the judiciary and warned against political pressure: “It is not a good thing to put political pressure on the courts. Let us see what happens.”
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Jammu and Kashmir to assess the post-flood situation, Abdullah expressed hope for a comprehensive relief package for the Union Territory. “We will brief the Prime Minister on the losses suffered by the people and hope he will provide a substantial package,” he said.
The Chief Minister highlighted the scale of the devastation caused by recent floods: “Lives were lost, especially during the two yatras in Kishtwar and Katra. Property damage has been massive — 330 bridges were washed away, 1,500 km of roads damaged, and several government buildings affected. Agricultural land and horticulture, particularly fruit crops, suffered significant losses. We hope an assessment will be conducted and compensation provided to the people.”
Responding to opposition criticism of his government, Abdullah said, “The job of the opposition is to oppose. They will always find reasons to criticise, but their opposition will not affect my work.”
He added, “I neither fear opposition criticism nor will it hinder my efforts. My duty is to guide J-K out of its challenges, support the tourism sector that suffered setbacks after the Pahalgam attack, and continue working for the welfare of the people.”
