Kill corrupt if you have to, spare the innocent: Governor's statement draws Omar's flak

Jk Governor Satya pal Malik asked the militants to kill the corrupt, if they have to, who have looted Kashmir instead of the innocent.

Malik was at Khree Sultan Choo stadium in Kargil for the inauguration of Kargil Ladakh tourism festival 2019.

"Yeh ladke jo bandook liye fizool mein apne logon ko maar rahe hain, PSOs, SDOs ko maarte hain. Kyun maar rahe ho inko? Unhe maaro jinhone tumhara mulk loota hai,jinhone Kashmir ki saari daulat looti hai (Why are you killing innocents including SPOs and PSOs. What will you gain by this? If you have to kill why don't you kill the corrupt who have looted the country and Kashmir for so long)," said Malik.

He also said that the militants do not have the power to erode the authority of the Indian government.

"Yours is a futile struggle. You are losing your lives for nothing," he said.

"Our estimates are that at present there are 250 militants including 125 foreign militants. During encounters, the foreign militant takes two days to die and the local two hours. LTTE was once the most powerful terrorist organisation in the world. Where is it today?" he added.

He also expressed satisfaction over the 'change in the ground situation' in Kashmir, saying that the people are now talking of peace.

"It is for the first time in 30 years that there was no strike on the visit of the country's Home Minister to Kashmir," Malik said referring to the recent visit of Amit Shah to the Valley.

The government is taking strict measures to bring transparency in the system and removing various bottlenecks in the path of progress, he added.

On the occasion, the Governor announced the establishment of two degree colleges in Kargil district, including a Women's Degree College.

He said a 2,500-MW solar power project will be set up soon, augmenting the power generation in Kargil

Meanwhile, National Conference leader and former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hit out at the governor and accused him of sanctioning unlawful killings.

“This man, ostensibly a responsible man occupying a constitutional position, tells militants to kill politicians perceived to be corrupt. Perhaps the man should find out about his own reputation in Delhi these days before sanctioning unlawful killings & kangaroo courts,” Omar tweeted.