Kharge blames Centre for ‘security collapse’ after attack on Farooq Abdullah

Flagging the recent attack on former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that there has been a serious deterioration of law and order in Jammu and Kashmir since the Union Home Ministry assumed control of security after the revocation of Statehood.

The incident showed that the “people of Kashmir are not safe,” he said in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday (March 12, 2026), suggesting that there was a larger conspiracy to target senior leaders.

The Leader of the House and Union Minister J.P. Nadda promised a comprehensive probe into the “murderous attack”, but also accused the Opposition of politicising the incident.

‘Law and order breakdown’

“His security is under threat because the Statehood of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked,” Mr. Kharge said, arguing that when security and policing were under the elected State government, “no such incident could occur.” He reiterated that the current situation stemmed from the Centre assuming charge of security, claiming that law and order had “broken down” and that plots were being hatched to “eliminate important leaders.”

Referring to Wednesday (March 11, 2026) night’s incident on the outskirts of Jammu, Mr. Kharge said that Mr. Abdullah “was saved by a whisker” after a man allegedly fired at him while he was leading a marriage function. The accused, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, was quickly overpowered and taken into custody.

“Is it the intention of the government to kill Farooq Abdullah?” Mr. Kharge asked. If the intention were to safeguard him, he argued, the former Chief Minister would have been provided full security cover.

‘Security lapse’

Insisting that people would be safe only when Jammu and Kashmir regained statehood, the Congress chief told the Centre: “People of Kashmir are not safe in your hands.” He further alleged a conspiracy to target people who stand for secularism, socialism, and national unity.

National Conference MP Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan also questioned the security lapse, claiming there was no police protection around Mr. Abdullah at the time of the attack. “Where was the police?” he asked, demanding an immediate upgrade of the leader’s security.

Thorough investigation

Responding to the concerns, Mr. Nadda said the government would take all necessary measures to ensure Mr. Abdullah’s safety. Calling the incident “a murderous attack” and “a matter of great concern,” he assured the Rajya Sabha that the Union government was treating it seriously and would conduct a thorough investigation, including determining the motive.

However, Mr. Nadda also criticised the Opposition for politicising the issue, saying that linking the attack to the absence of Statehood or alleging a conspiracy was “condemnable.” He also countered by questioning the Congress over the unresolved circumstances surrounding Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s death in Srinagar in 1953.