Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Satya Pal Malik, on Sunday had asked militants not to kill innocent people, including security personnel, and rather target “those who have looted the wealth of Kashmir for years”.
The statement of Satya Pal Malik evoked severe criticism from mainstream politicians.
Later on Monday, Malik confessed that he should not have made the comment although "his personal feeling is the same, said reports.
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The J&K Governor added that many political leaders and big bureaucrats are steeped in corruption here.
Following this former chief minister and senior Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has given sharp reactions.
Omar Abdullah tweeted, “This man, ostensibly a responsible man occupying a constitutional position, tells militants to kill politicians perceived to be corrupt. Perhaps the man should find out about his own reputation in Delhi these days before sanctioning unlawful killings & kangaroo courts.”
On the other hand, the Governor was quick to add that guns could never be the solution and cited the example of LTTE in Sri Lanka.
Malik mentioned only 250 militants were remaining in the Valley, out which 50 percent were Pakistanis who will be eliminated in encounters unless they surrender.
Taking a veiled dig at mainstream politicians, Malik said these leaders talk a different language in Delhi and a different one in Kashmir.
However, Pal has later offered an apology and stated that he made the controversial statement in a 'fit of rage'.
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