Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned the killing of BJP leader Ghulam Mohammed Mir in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag, saying that such violence has no place in the country.
In a tweet, the PM said that Mir’s contribution to strengthening BJP in J-K will always be remembered.
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“Strongly condemn the killing of @BJP4JnK leader Shri Ghulam Mohammed Mir. His contribution towards strengthening the party in J&K will always be remembered,” Modi tweeted, adding, “There is no place for such violence in our country.”
Mir, the BJP vice-president of the Anantnag district unit, was on Saturday shot dead by three terrorists. He was rushed to the district hospital at Anantnag with bullet injuries into his chest and abdomen but could not be saved.
The incident happened at 10 pm at Mir’s house at Nowgam-Verinag area of Anantnag district. Mir had unsuccessfully contested the election to Dooru Assembly segment in 2008 and 2014.
BJP president Amit Shah too condoled the killing of the party leader.
“I am saddened by killing of Ghulam Mohammed Mir, BJP leader from Anantnag. His contribution in strengthening the BJP in the valley was immense. Extremist forces in the valley can’t demoralise BJP karyakartas with violence. My condolences with the bereaved family,” Shah tweeted.
State BJP president Ravinder Raina said that Mir was known as Atal Bihari Vajpayee of Anantnag.
“His killing is a big loss to the nation…he was a brave man who always fought against Pakistani terrorists and till the last breath of his life served the motherland,” Raina said, adding that the BJP leader’s “martyrdom” will not go in vain.
BJP state spokesperson Brig (Retd) Anil Gupta said that Mir’s killing just two days before polling is held in Anantnag “is meant to scare political workers of BJP”.
“Attack just a couple of days before polling is meant to scare political workers of BJP. Nationalist forces in valley have become strong enough to thwart nefarious designs of those who are against democracy,” he said.
Mir’s killing was also condemned by National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti.
“Ghulam Mohd Mir, office bearer of the BJP in South Kashmir has been shot & killed in Nowgam, Verinag. I condemn this dastardly act of violence & pray for the soul of the departed, Allah Jannat naseeb karey,” tweeted Abdullah.
“I strongly condemn the killing of @BJP4India leader Gul Muhammad Mir in Verinag, South Kashmir. My condolences to the bereaved family and prayers for the departed soul,” Mufti said in a tweet.
Last week terrorists had critically injured a former BJP leader in Shopian.
