Mehbooba laments Bajrang Dal activist's killing in Karnataka

Jammu: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday lamented the killing of a Bajrang Dal activist in Karnataka, saying it was “tragic”.

Bajrang Dal activist Harsha, 23, was stabbed to death by unidentified people in Karnataka's Shivamogga district on Sunday night.

 “It (the killing) should not have happened. It is very tragic,” she told reporters.

 Asked whether she condemned the killing, Mufti said, “Exactly, it should be condemned if something like that has happened.”

The former chief minister was interacting with media persons outside her party headquarters at Gandhi Nagar in Jammu, where she met several delegations, including unemployed youth and transporters.

 “Various delegations, including the aspiring candidates of Border Battalions and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and



transporters, held separate meetings with me to highlight their issues. I request the administration to take note of their grievances and ensure final selection of the candidates for Border Battalions as many of the youth, who have applied for the jobs, have turned overage,” she said.

Mufti also asked the administration to look into the issues of transporters who, she said, have suffered huge losses over the years.

“The government is phasing out commercial vehicles in Jammu and Srinagar districts in 20 years and in the rest of the districts in 25 years…they (transporters) have suffered huge losses (due to COVID-induced lockdown) and are overburdened by loans. The price hike of diesel has made their lives miserable,” she said, expressing hope that the government will take note of their issues and address them on priority.