Srinagar Killings: Punjab CM Channi urges Centre to ensure minorities’ safety

Chandigarh, October 8

Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today expressed anguish over the killing of a principal and a teacher from minority communities by terrorists at a government school in Jammu and Kashmir capital Srinagar on Thursday.

Terming it a “crime against humanity to destroy the ethos of peace, harmony and brotherhood”, Channi urged the Narendra Modi government to take effective measures to ensure the safety of those living under uncertainty due to threat from terror outfits in the state. He stressed the need to repose a sense of security amongst minority communities and asked the BJP-led government at the Centre to bring the guilty to book. He said harshest punishment under the law should be given to those involved as it would serve as a deterrent.

Centre’s failure

There have been seven targeted killings in past five days. The Centre has failed to protect minorities in J&K. The government has failed to curb terrorism in Valley.

—Harpal Singh Cheema, Leader of opposition

The CM urged Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to direct the state administration to extend all possible help to the aggrieved families.

Meanwhile, the AAP has accused the Centre of failing to provide security to the people, especially minorities. Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema expressed condolences with the families of the victims and termed the killings “deeply distressing”. — TNS

Candle march by SAD

In Ropar, SAD workers led by ex-Cabinet minister Daljit Singh Cheema held a candle march in memory of the slain teachers. Cheema condemned the killing and asked the Centre to take appropriate measures to protect minorities in the Valley.