J&K: Malik backtracks on 'kill corrupt' remarks, slams 'juvenile' Omar

Malik had asked militants to kill those “who looted all the wealth of Kashmir...”

Shah Malik PTI (File) Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi | PTI

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday backtracked on his comments that the militants in the state should kill those who had looted its wealth.

Malik had claimed at the inauguration of the Kargil and Ladakh Tourism Festival on Sunday that militants were “unnecessarily” killing their own people. He asked the militants to kill those “who have looted your country, looted all the wealth of Kashmir...” Malik's comments had triggered an uproar from commentators and politicians.

On Monday, speaking to news agency ANI, Malik said, “Whatever I said was in a fit of anger and frustration. As a governor, I should not have said this. But if I was not holding this post, I would have said the same and would have been ready to bear the consequences.”

Malik also lashed out at former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, who had criticised his comments on Sunday. Abdullah had tweeted, “This man, ostensibly a responsible man occupying a constitutional position, tells militants to kill politicians perceived to be corrupt. Perhaps the man should find out about his own reputation in Delhi these days before sanctioning unlawful killings & kangaroo courts.”

Abdullah snidely noted Malik would be responsible if any mainstream politician or bureaucrat was killed in Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah tweeted, “Save this tweet - after today any mainstream politician or serving/retired bureaucrat killed in J&K has been murdered on the express orders of the Governor of J&K Satyapal Malik.”

Responding to Abdullah's criticism, Malik referred to him as a “political juvenile”. Malik told ANI,

He (Abdullah) is a political juvenile. He tweets on everything. See the reaction to his tweets and you will find out. Go on the streets and ask people about him”.