Cong vows to intensify battle to ‘save democracy’ in J&K

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 17

A day after authorities disallowed party leaders to hold a press conference, the Congress on Saturday asserted to intensify its battle to ‘save democracy’ in J&K.

“We are not going to be intimidated by the dictatorial attitude of the present dispensation,” Ravinder Sharma, chief spokesman for Pradesh Congress, said. Sharma was picked up by police on Friday from the party headquarters, where he was scheduled to address a press conference.

“The Friday’s press conference was to announce programmes in connection with observance of birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on August 20,” Sharma said and pointed out that with the media interaction, party leaders were not going to disrupt peace in the city.

“Authorities have made a mockery of democracy by not allowing the main opposition party to hold a press conference,” he said, and asserted that the party was going to intensify its campaign to ‘save democracy’ in the state.

Meanwhile, Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party on Saturday demanded release of its leader Choudhary Lal Singh, who has been detained by the police ‘without any reason’.

“House arrest of Choudhary Lal Singh equates him to the separatists of Kashmir, which is highly derogatory and unbearable and against the popular sentiments of Jammu,” party leaders said, adding, “Instead of using his public image and political experience in harmonising such unprecedented and alarming contingencies, keeping him under prolonged detention raises suspicion on government’s intentions”.