Katra, March 5: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Thursday criticised the Centre for remaining silent on the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Condemning the United States over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, Abdullah said Washington had acted similarly in Venezuela by targeting former President Nicolas Maduro.
Abdullah told reporters, “The Indian government should issue a statement on this. America has attacked an independent nation, and that is wrong. They did the same in Venezuela. This conflict will impact the entire world, and there is a real risk of another World War. Muslims are angered, and protests are spreading.”
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with leaders of the UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar, calling for dialogue and diplomacy in West Asia, the Centre has yet to officially comment on Khamenei’s death.
The conflict erupted after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which killed Supreme Leader Khamenei and several key figures. His death has sparked demonstrations across India, including in Jammu and Kashmir. Security remained on high alert around Srinagar’s Ghanta Ghar for the second day as a precautionary measure following protests.
In the Union Territory, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti also criticised the central government for failing to condemn the attack. She protested by burning posters of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while holding posters of Khamenei.
Mufti said, “In the last 5–6 days, Israel and the US have been attacking Iran, resulting in the death of the Supreme Leader. This has caused grief and anger among the people, which they tried to express, leading to thousands being detained, including women.”
