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The Bharatiya Janata Party, on Tuesday, termed the attack on the Amarnath pilgrims as a 'crime against humanity', and said, "Time is ripe for stern action against terrorists and their sponsors."
The BJP condemnation comes in the wake of the terrorist attack on a heavily guarded base camp for pilgrims, in south Kashmir, killing nine and wounding 32.
"The attack on the pilgrims, near Pahalgam, is a crime against humanity. The terrorists are hell-bent on undermining Indian democracy. This proves Pakistan is not implementing its assurances on the ground. It is high time we take immediate and stern action against the terrorists, their protectors and sponsors," party spokesman, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, told reporters in Delhi.
The Shiv Sena, BJP's key ally in the ruling National Democratic Alliance, and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanded the dismissal of the Jammu and Kashmir government headed by Farooq Abdullah.
Condemning the attack as an 'act of cowardice', the Delhi Shiv Sena vice-president Abhimanyu Gulati said the incident was a reflection of the 'government's lack of will to crush terrorism with an iron hand.'
"President's rule should be imposed in the state and the assembly election should be postponed till peace and the Kashmiri pandits, return to the valley," Gulati said.
VHP senior vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore accused Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah of 'total failure' in protecting the lives of innocent citizens, and sought the dismissal of the state government.
"Enough is enough. The state government should be dismissed forthwith and the Centre should take necessary steps to safeguard the lives and property of minorities," he said.
In a cautious reaction, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh spokesman, M G Vaidya, termed the attack as 'unfortunate', and said it showed that 'militants can breach even the best of security.'
EARLIER REPORT: Amarnath Yatra resumes amid tighter security
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