The BJP's decision to give Rs1,00,000 to anyone killing a terrorist has triggered anger and disgust in Jammu and Kashmir, with CM Azad warning of anarchy.
SRINAGAR/JAMMU: The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) decision to give Rs.100,000 to anyone killing a terrorist has triggered anger and disgust in Jammu and Kashmir, with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad warning of anarchy.
From the government to the man on the street, many are simply unable to believe that the country's main opposition party has made such an announcement.
"It is like the Wild West of the 17th century," moaned Muzaffar Ahmed, who teaches in a college here and is among countless Kashmiris who constantly pray for a better tomorrow.
"The BJP is looking for booty hunters. What for do we have law and order if anybody and everybody can start head hunting here? What safeguards would we have against criminals and dacoits who can easily settle personal or communal scores by responding to the sinister announcement?" he asked, echoing an opinion shared both in the Kashmir Valley and the Hindu-dominated Jammu region.
Former Delhi chief minister Sahib Singh Verma said Thursday that any civilian who killed a militant would get a cash reward of Rs.100,000 from his party while the family of a civilian killed by terrorists would get Rs.200,000.
Chief Minister Azad expressed his outrage.
"The BJP has lost all sense. It is unable to understand the situation and is trying to cause massive trouble in an already troubled state," Azad told IANS in Jammu.
"We are trying to neutralise militancy by acting tough against them and provide succour to victims of violence. But the BJP is inviting more violence in the state."
Azad added: "There is rule of law in the state. We have an elected government that is putting all its might and resources together to fight militancy. The BJP announcement means asking for anarchy."
Transport Minister and senior Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma was so angry that he convened a hurried press conference in Jammu to voice his concern.
"It is an outright bid to communalise the situation. The BJP is either unaware of the dangers its announcement would have for communal harmony or it is deliberately fuelling communal frenzy.
"If the BJP has taken upon itself to announce rewards for killing militants, then what are the security forces here for? The BJP is seeking to demoralise the security forces and undermine their valiant efforts to fight terrorism."
In Srinagar, the hotbed of militancy that has claimed thousands of lives since 1989, the reactions of the people were sharp.
"This can prompt criminals and killers from other parts of India to join the violence in Kashmir for mercenary reasons. This is an open invitation to lawlessness," said Sajad Bhat, 26, a college student.
Even a fruit seller in Srinagar refused to believe the news.
"Do you mean to say I should stop selling fruits and buy a gun to start head hunting? Well, this is absurd," said Meraj-ud-Din, who sells fruit on the fashionable Residency Road.
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh termed the BJP statement as "extremely dangerous and unheard of".
"It is simple politics which will have a disastrous effect on the life and property of the people," said Shiv Kumar, a shopkeeper in Pucca Danga area of Jammu.
"If the BJP is so proactive now, why didn't it curb terrorism when it ruled the country?" he asked.
A Congress leader in Srinagar commented: "Why didn't they make such an announcement during their rule? They are advocating jungle law."
Separatist leaders denounced the announcement.
"It is fascist. This aims at legitimising murder and lawlessness. That is the real BJP in its true colours," said a senior leader of the moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq in Srinagar.
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