Jammu, Mar 13: Former Sadr-e-Riyasat and veteran politician Karan Singh Friday termed the assassination attempt on former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah as a “security lapse.”
“Yes, it seems to be a security lapse. Because he (Farooq) is having Z plus security and if it (incident) happens, it definitely will be a security lapse somewhere. Thank God, he remained unhurt otherwise it would have created chaos,” Singh stated, while speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of the inaugural event of 4th edition of “Tawi festival”, being organized by Amar Mahal Museum and Library.
“Now why it happened and what is the background of the man who made such an attempt, is a matter of investigation. Some animosity (as the man is claiming) may be the reason. We visited Dr Farooq at his residence in Bhatindi on Thursday to meet him. From the airport, I went directly there, along with my children and grand-children as we shared an old and very cordial relationship with Dr Farooq. He has been a good friend,” senior politician revealed, while recalling that he was brought to politics again by Abdullah.
“I had left politics and remained away from it for 12 years. It was Dr Farooq, who brought me again back to the political realm, where I worked for another 18 years. Thanking God for protecting him, we wish him a long life,” Singh said.
Responding to a question about the situation emerging in the backdrop of ongoing war in West Asia, Singh said, “It is absolutely disastrous. Iran is a great civilisation and our ties with it (Iran) date back to thousands of years. One finds it very unfortunate to see the destruction of Iran, mainly due to Israel, which attacked it while the negotiations of Iran and US were still on, thus preventing any source of agreement between the duo (US and Iran). I still think that they should come to an agreement.”
With regard to proceedings during the first day of “Tawi festival”, Singh lauded the lecture delivered on the significance of water.
In that context, he criticised the construction of four and six-lane roads in Himalayan range.
“This has destroyed the entire Himalayan range and has made it fragile. I have written a letter to (Nitin) Gadkari appreciating his works. The way he is getting the roads constructed in the plains – is unprecedented. However, I requested him that the same yardsticks should not be applied in the hilly areas. We are paying a heavy price for it as we witnessed in Jammu, Himachal last year,” Singh said.
“No four-lane is required in the hilly areas. Tourists can comfortably travel on two-way roads. I’ve travelled widely and have seen that every place does not have a four or six-lane road. To destroy mountains in the name of tourists is not justified. It is not judicious to construct hotels in the hilly areas by destroying Himalaya. The government should respect Himalayan culture, religious beliefs and above all ecology,” Singh said.
