Oppositon slams govt over rising deaths

Amid increasing pressure on the ruling National Conference (NC) to address the mysterious deaths in Rajouri, opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have strongly criticised the government for its handling of the situation.

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BJP MLA from Padder Nagseni and Leader of the Opposition in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, lashed out at the J&K Government on Friday, accusing it of an “irresponsible attitude” toward the deaths in Badhaal village of Rajouri.

Sharma, in a statement, criticised Chief Minister (CM) Omar Abdullah for his “perceived indifference” to the tragedy, stating that the CM “was enjoying skiing and snowfall while people were losing their lives.” He further stated that the CM should have responded promptly to the crisis from day one, but instead, he sent his ministers, who did not visit Badhaal. Instead, the ministers held a meeting at Kotranka and returned, which Sharma described as an “eye wash.”

Sharma emphasised that the NC-led government should have taken the issue more seriously, as 16 innocent lives had been lost, causing widespread panic among the local population.

People’s Conference Chief and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone, expressed concern over the “seemingly mysterious disease” in Rajouri, calling it “heart-wrenching.” “I sincerely hope that our medical fraternity is able to identify the cause of the deaths,” Lone said. He also urged that information about the disease be shared with medical scientists and experts on a national level, as such mysterious medical occurrences often surface globally.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) also sent its leaders to Badhaal, Rajouri, this week to offer condolences to the families of the 16 victims, mostly children. The PDP demanded justice, accountability, and immediate financial assistance for the grieving families. “Their unimaginable loss must not be ignored, and justice must be delivered without delay,” the party wrote on X.

In a statement, the Awami Ittehad Party’s chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said,” This neglect is a betrayal of the trust the people have placed in the system and the administration.”