"I'm anguished to hear about the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir. He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu and Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed," he said on Twitter.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the killing of Bukhari, calling it an act of cowardice.
The home minister also said that he was shocked by the journalist's death.
"The killing of @RisingKashmir editor, Shujaat Bukhari is an act of cowardice. It is an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir. He was a courageous and fearless journalist. Extremely shocked & pained at his death. My thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family," he said.
BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav also termed the journalist's killing as a cowardly act of terrorists. In a tweet, the saffron party leader said, "Shocked to hear about d attack on d Editor-in-Chief of Rising Kashmir Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar. Reprehensible n condemnable cowardly act of d terrorists (sic)".
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed shock over the incident of killing.
"Shocked beyond words. May Shujaat find place in Jannat & May his loved ones find strength at this difficult time," Abdullah said in a tweet and also posted a screenshot of his last conversation with the deceased journalist.
He also appreciated Bukhari for defending his profession and said he died in the line of duty doing what he did best & loved doing - journalism.
Buhkari and his PSO were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the heart of Srinagar. Bukhari, who was in his 50s, was leaving his office in Press Enclave in the city centre Lal Chowk for an iftar party when he was shot, officials said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed shock over the brutal killing of Bukhari and his PSO.
"Saddened and shocked at the brutal killing of respected editor and senior journalist @bukharishujaat. With a few hours to go for Eid this is terrible," Banerjee posted on her official twitter handle.
"No words are enough for this big tragedy," she tweeted.
"Heartbreaking the loss of Shujaat Bukhari, an incredibly brave editor & an invaluable voice of middle-ground moderation. This is a loss for all Kashmiri’s, India and the entire journalistic community," senior journalist Shekhar Gupta.
The Editors Guild of India said it "unequivocally condemns the assassination of Rising Kashmir Editor Shujaat Bukhari".
This is a grave attack on press freedom and democratic voice, it said.
(With inputs from agencies)