SRINAGAR: In shocking remarks, National Conference Member of Parliament Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan on Thursday said, “If they want to bury anybody in the earth, nobody can save him.”
The NC MP made these remarks during a condolence meeting called by the National Conference in Handwara over the death of party leader Dr. Mustafa Kamal.
“They (R&B staff) shouldn’t think that we are silent or gentle. If we want to bury anybody in the earth, nobody can save him,” Ramzan said during the meeting, where a banner on the wall identified it as a condolence gathering.
Ramzan made the controversial statement on the same day Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cautioned against mixing politics with grief. “If you want to do politics, then don’t come to offer condolences. You come to our home to express sympathy and then step outside to make political statements. Grief and politics should not be mixed,” the CM said, adding that he would not discuss politics during the mourning period.
At the Handwara meeting, according to a viral video shared on social media, Ramzan lashed out at staff of the Roads & Buildings Department, calling them “dacoits” and “thieves”: “Some officers here are not right. The Executive Engineer is also among them, and we are keeping a strict vigil over them. Until today, we have forgiven him only because of his father. I know why the Executive Engineer is engaging in mischief. They are thieves, they are dacoits…” he said.
Ramzan also appeared upset over the inauguration of macadamisation works by MLA Handwara, remarking: “The MLA did not remember that he had to do anything over the past two years, during which he did nothing. The works were announced by the Deputy Chief Minister, but the MLA has come to inaugurate the macadamisation of Handwara bus stand. It was the Deputy Chief Minister who made the announcement and released the money.”
The National Conference‑led government has made it mandatory for officers to invite concerned MLAs to all official functions.
Ramzan also warned his party workers to refrain from indulging in mischief. “I want to remind my workers, particularly contractors, that mischiefs made by you with the party will not be tolerated. You should choose only one path,” he said.
In his speech, the NC MP repeatedly slammed and mocked the MLA from Handwara, saying the NC has 50 MLAs while the Handwara MLA is not even counted.
Ramzan made the remarks at a time when the Peoples Conference headed by MLA Handwara has been invited by the National Conference to participate in the Jantar Mantar protests.
Ramzan’s statement, made at the time of the Jantar Mantar protest against a party that had been invited, has raised eyebrows in political circles.
“Such statements undermine unity efforts. At least the MP, who holds one of the seniormost positions in the party, could have waited for a few days to criticize his rival. Why cannot our political leaders shun differences for a few days for the larger cause?” asked a political leader.
When contacted, Ramzan said that he was busy in a condolence meeting. “Arrey chhodo bhai, chhodo (leave it, leave it),” he remarked when asked about his comments. —(KNO)
