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Kashmiri Politicians Condemn Deadly Blast in Indian Capital

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Sept 7: The pro-Indian and separatist politicians in Indian administered Kashmir Wednesday condemned the deadly blast in Indian capital, which left 11 people dead and over 60 injured.

At least 11 persons were killed and more than 64 injured when a bomb exploded at the entrance gate of a court in Delhi this morning.

The bombing has evoked strong condemnation in Kashmir.

Chief Minister of the region Omar Abdullah described the blast as "mindless violence." "Another blast, more mindless violence and mind numbing tragedy," Omar wrote on micro-blogging website Twitter.

He said police and other security agencies should be allowed to find who was behind the blast and till then he would not speculate it.

Former Chief Minister and Indian Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad said India will never succumb to terrorism. "I urge the people to unitedly combat the scourge," he said.

The Opposition PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said the blast was the handiwork of those elements, who don't believe in any religion or humanity. "Whole Kashmiri nation is mourning the blast and it is a barbaric act. No religion allows such acts. I have full sympathies for the bereaved families," she said.

Another pro-Indian Kashmiri leader Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz termed the blast as an inhuman act and highly condemnable.

Meanwhile, senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, who is considered hardliner, termed the blast as worst kind of terrorism. "It would be early to speculate who is behind these blasts. Probe in similar blasts in Malegoan, Makkah Masjid and Samjutha Express in India have made similar kind of attacks very sensitive," he said.

The moderate separatist leader and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq described the blast as an act of terrorism. "We condemn terrorism at every level and all its forms - whether government or non-government," he said.

Pro-independence separatist leader Mohammad Yasin Malik termed Delhi and similar blasts in Quetta Pakistan as "inhuman acts."

"Killing of any innocent is highly condemnable and the people who are involved in such acts are beasts," he said.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.