Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma on Monday alleged "anti-national" sloganeering coupled with stone pelting on people from Jammu was being carried out at the behest of "Kashmir-centric" politicians and secessionist forces.
The former minister also expressed concern over registration of cases against youths of Jammu who protested against such forces.
"Anti-national sloganeering followed by stone-throwing on Jammu people was done with the intent to flare up communal passions at the behest of Kashmir-centric politicians and secessionist forces," said Sharma, senior vice president of J&K Congress unit.
The J&K police had registered a case on Thursday in connection with allegedly raising anti-national slogans by some stranded Kashmiri Muslim passengers here on February 11. The Congress leader said those who committed the crime were moving scot-free.
Sharma also urged upon the government to take strict action against "anti-national" elements. "During the previous BJP-PDP government, 10,000-12,000 stone pelters were released by the alliance government....which proved a suicidal step," he said.
The Congress leader added that the decision led to the security forces paying a heavy price. "Not only this, the security forces got demoralised by such wrong decisions...The BJP compromised on security for the lust of power," he alleged.
(With PTI inputs)
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