Ministers, Oppn Leaders, Media Bodies Express Shock at Bukhari's Killing

New Delhi, Jun 14 (PTI) Politicians, including Union ministers and those from the Opposition, and media bodies expressed shock at the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari, with Home Minister Rajnath Singh condemning it as an act of cowardice and attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi described Bukhari as a "braveheart" who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said terrorism had hit a new low with Bukhari's killing and asserted that justice would be done.

"We must unite against forces seeking to undermine our attempts to restore peace. Justice will be done," she said, adding that the scourge of terror reared its ugly head on the eve of Eid.

The Union home minister said the murder of the editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir, a valley-based daily, was an act of cowardice.

"It is an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir. He was a courageous and fearless journalist. Extremely shocked & pained at his death. My thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family," he tweeted.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore described it as a brutal attack on freedom of press.

"Assassination of Shujaat Bukhari is a brutal attack on freedom of press. A cowardly and deplorable act of terror. Our fearless media is one of the greatest strength of our democracy and we are committed to providing a safe and conducive working environment to media persons," Rathore said.

Gandhi said he was anguished to hear about the killing of Bukhari.

"He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu and Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed," he said on Twitter.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who is his party's pointsman for Jammu and Kashmir, also expressed his shock and deplored the killing as a reprehensible and condemnable cowardly act of terrorists.

Condemning the dastardly attack, the Editors Guild of India paid tributes to Bukhari and described him as a voice of moderation and a courageous, big-hearted editor who mentored a large cadre of young journalists from Kashmir.

In a statement, the journalist body called upon the state and central governments to enhance security for all journalists in Jammu and Kashmir and said that an attack on a journalist challenges the very foundation of a free press and vibrant democracy.

Congress's communication-in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala expressed his shock.

"Anguished beyond words. Security situation in J&K has hit its nadir. Demand the Centre to take swift action to nab the killers. They can silence us but not our thoughts," he said. PTI KR

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