PDP leader detained after calling slain militant Burhan Wani a “martyr”

A controversial remark describing slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani as a “martyr” landed PDP leader Abdul Kabir in police questioning on Friday, triggering a political exchange in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Congress asserting that a terrorist must be treated as a terrorist.

Kabir had made the remark during an event in Kishtwar, prompting a controversy over his description of Wani, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Kokernag area in 2016.

Defending his statement, the PDP leader termed it his personal opinion and invoked democratic freedom of expression, while also referring to alleged past interactions between BJP leaders and Wani’s family.

When questioned by reporters regarding his choice of words, Kabir maintained that his statement was a personal opinion. He argued that his perspective was protected under the principles of democracy, asserting that individuals have the freedom to express their own views on such matters.

Reacting sharply to the controversy, Ravinder Sharma, chief spokesman of the Congress in J&K, said “A terrorist is a terrorist and Congress has never minced words nor deeds in sternly dealing with terrorism”.

“Some parties and leaders change their stance to remain in power with opposite poles”, Sharma added in an obvious reference to BJP.