Srinagar, Jul 19 (IANS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday reacted sharply to a statement by a senior Indian Army officer that the situation in the state is "alarming".

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the voting in the presidential poll, Abdullah said: "The situation is not alarming at all. If at all the situation is really alarming, it reflects the failure of somebody and we should also talk about that."

"Nobody should make such statements. We have had large numbers of tourists visiting the state this year. Such statements can cause alarm among the people," Abdullah said in reply to a question about the statement of the 15 Corps commander, Lieutenant General Om Prakash.

The general had said in a recent media interaction that the situation was alarming because of the recent influx of guerrillas into the Valley.

Asked whether the ruling party's vote was also a vote for clemency to parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Abdullah said: "We have already made our position clear on that. It is not for the president to basically decide on clemency it is the government that decides such issues".