Farooq Abdullah (PTI file photo)
NEW DELHI: After an attempt on his life, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday reflected on the incident, saying, “God saved me.”Sharing brief details about the tense moments at a wedding function in Jammu’s Greater Kailash area, NC chief told reporters, “I was walking out of the venue when I heard the sound of a firecracker. Immediately, I was rushed into a car. Later, I was told that there was a man with a pistol who had fired two shots. Neither do I know this man (the accused), nor do I have any information about him.”
Farooq further said, “I don’t know what his (accused Kamal’s) intention was. To say it was a security lapse would be a big statement to make. Many big personalities were present at this wedding, but there was no police present. By Allah’s grace, my security was present with me, and my life was saved. I did get a call (from the Union Home Minister) who asked me about my well-being and assured me that they would investigate the matter. An inquiry should be done. Such things keep happening when there is a situation of hatred now…. No religion teaches hatred, but only to love…”He also reflected on the changed power dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, which turned the state into a Union Territory and brought law and order under the Centre’s direct control. He said, “The Central and the UT govt should see if the situation here is really improved. We might have differences of opinion, but we have to work together as we are a democracy and voice our opinions…”While talking to reporters, Farooq once again demanded the restoration of full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. “An elected govt doesn’t have powers—how can it continue this way? We were promised that statehood would be restored…”“No matter how much security you increase, the killer always has an advantage. The problem is that we live in an era where terrorism is up in the sky, and we cannot control it,” he added.This was Abdullah’s first reaction after a 63-year-old man, Kamal Singh Jamwal, suddenly opened fire at the wedding venue, firing two rounds allegedly targeting the former chief minister and long-time National Conference leader.The tense situation was quickly brought under control by Abdullah’s security personnel, as seen in CCTV footage from the venue.Officials said that Farooq, accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary, was returning from a marriage function when the incident occurred.The suspect was quickly overpowered and detained at the spot, preventing any harm to the leaders.Farooq Abdullah’s son and Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah took to social media to inform about the “very close shave” during the function and raised questions about possible security lapses.“Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave. The details are sketchy at the moment but what is known is that a man with a loaded pistol was able to get within point blank range & discharge a shot. It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot & ensured that the assassination attempt failed. There are more questions than answers at the moment including but not limited to how someone was able to get this close to a Z+ NSG protected former CM,” Omar Abdullah said in a post on X.
