No compromise on national security, deal with terrorism firmly, says Sonia (Update)

An anguished Congress party president Sonia Gandhi said on Monday that political parties must be allowed time to find "durable and enduring ways" to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement issued with regard to the more than 20 lives lost in the state owing to clashes between protestors and security forces following the death of militant Burhan Wani in an encounter in the Tral region last week, Gandhi expressed deep anguish at the loss of innocent lives in the senseless violence in parts of J&K in past few days.

She said that, "there can be no compromise on matters relating to national security. Terrorism must be dealt with firmly."

The statement further quoted her, as saying, "Even so, the death of so many of our citizens and attack on security forces is very painful. The political process has made many gains in J&K over the last two decades particulatly and these must not get lost. I appeal to my brothers and sisters in the Valley to allow political parties to find durable and enduring ways of fulfilling their aspirations meaningfully in a peaceful and democratic manner.