Torn posters welcome PM Modi

Bismah Malik

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 8

On a day when all eyes were set on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir, posters put up by the BJP stood torn much before the rally started at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here today.

At some important junctures in Srinagar leading to the venue, these hoardings were put down by the local municipal body.

According to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation Chief Resident Officer (CRO), Nissar Ahmad, all hoardings and posters put up in public spaces have been put down for which approval of the SMC was not sought beforehand.

“There is no bias in this operation. We are taking a legal course if a political party does not seek our approval prior to putting up these hoardings/posters in the city. We just remove them when we find such kind of publicity materials,” Nissar said.

He added, “As per the rules political parties have to pay according to standard rates for the number of days they want to put up hoardings. Rules are same for everyone.”

However, it is not just the BJP which is bearing the brunt of having taken rules for a ride. The posters and hoardings of other parties such as the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and the Congress and even Independent candidates were removed by the SMC for not seeking prior permission.

As campaigning by political parties has picked up in Srinagar which is scheduled to go to the polls on December 14 in the fourth phase of the elections, the city is decked up in colours of various parties. The municipal authorities at the same time have also jumped into action and removed such publicity material.