SRINAGAR, Apr 17: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti criticized the recent killing of Atiq Ahmed, a criminal turned politician in Uttar Pradesh, calling it a sign of “Jungle Raj” in the state. The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir expressed her concern about the rising incidents of violence and lawlessness in the state.
“It is very unfortunate that the killing of Atiq Ahmed makes it look like we are living in a jungle raj. It is unacceptable that such incidents are happening in broad daylight and the perpetrators are getting away with it,” Mufti said in a statement.
Ahmed was shot dead by unidentified assailants on April 15 in a busy market area of Allahabad. He was a former Samajwadi Party MP and had several criminal cases registered against him. Mufti said that while Ahmed may have had a criminal past, it was important to ensure that the rule of law is upheld and that nobody is above the law.
“The state government needs to take immediate action and bring the culprits to justice. There needs to be a sense of security and safety for the people living in the state,” she added.
Mufti’s comments come amid a series of violent incidents in Uttar Pradesh, including the recent murder of a journalist in Ghaziabad and the killing of two people in a communal clash in Aligarh. The state government has faced criticism for failing to control the law and order situation in the state.
The PDP Chief also criticized the central government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and accused them of prioritizing politics over people’s lives. She said that the government’s failure to provide adequate healthcare facilities and vaccines had led to the current crisis in the country.
“The government needs to take responsibility for its failures and work towards providing relief to the people. We need to come together as a country and fight this pandemic,” she added.
