"Congress ready to support govt": Deependar Hooda on terror attacks in Jammu

New Delhi [India], July 9 : Amid the recent increase in terror attacks in the Jammu division, Congress on Tuesday expressed its concern and asserted that whatever steps the government takes for the safety of the country, the party is ready to extend its support.
Addressing a press conference here today, Congress MP Deependar Singh Hooda said that the most concerning thing is that the Kathua attack is the fifth attack in a month.
"This cowardly attack on our Army personnel is extremely condemnable. The thing of concern is that it is the 5th attack in a month. Recently, an encounter took place in Kulgam where 6 terrorists were killed and 2 soldiers were martyred. On June 26, there was an encounter in Doda, and on June 9, the day of the Prime Minister's swearing-in ceremony, a bus heading towards Vaishno Devi was attacked," Hooda said.
"Congress is seriously concerned about these attacks. Government is not taking it seriously. As the opposition, we want to draw their attention to these attacks. Whatever steps the government would take for the safety of the country, Congress is ready to extend support. All citizens have the same feeling that these terrorists must be given a reply in their own language," he added.
He further stated that as Rahul Gandhi said, the solution to these attacks is strict action, not hollow speeches.
"A disturbing trend has emerged showing that for the first time, terrorists have made regions in the Jammu division, such as Rajouri, Reasi, and Poonch, the center of their activities. Data indicates that since January 2023, the number of civilians and soldiers martyred in terrorist incidents in the Jammu division has nearly doubled," Hooda stated.
"INC expresses deep concern about this disturbing trends that Jammu is emerging as the new center of terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
Earlier, calling it a cowardly act, President Droupadi Murmu condemned the July 8 Kathua terror attack in which five army soldiers lost their lives and called for firm counter-measures.
In a message on the social media platform, X, President Murmu said, "The attack on a convoy of Army personnel in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists is a cowardly act that deserves condemnation and firm counter-measures".
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday condemned the Kathua terror attack and demanded clarification from the central government on the terrorist attacks taking place in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the attack, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel have been deployed along the National Highway (NH44) in Udhampur.
Since June 9, there have been terror strikes at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda in which nine pilgrims and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan were killed. A civilian and at least seven security personnel were also injured.