Security downgrade makes Oppn leaders ‘inactive’

JAMMU: Notwithstanding tall claims of the Governor’s administration, political activity in Jammu and Kashmir has virtually come to a standstill as security of all Opposition leaders has been withdrawn, thus forcing them to confine themselves to their homes.

Securitymen stand guard in Jammu. A Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service
Jammu, October 15

Notwithstanding tall claims of the Governor’s administration, political activity in Jammu and Kashmir has virtually come to a standstill as security of all Opposition leaders has been withdrawn, thus forcing them to confine themselves to their homes.

Not only the security of Opposition leaders has been withdrawn, the government vehicles provided to them were also taken back by the authorities concerned without any notice.

Sources said the security and vehicles provided to National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Congress and Panthers Party were withdrawn so as to render them politically inactive. Interestingly, the same yardstick was not adopted for ex-BJP ministers and MLAs, who are enjoying all government privileges like sitting ministers and MLAs.

After the snapping of PDP-BJP alliance in June 2018 and dissolution of Assembly in November 2018, ex-ministers and MLAs were asked to vacate their official bungalows.

While security of all ex-ministers and MLAs was downgraded within no time, security of BJP leaders was further strengthened. “Biased attitude of the authorities has substantiated our allegations that administration in J&K is just a pawn in the hands of the BJP leadership,” alleged Ravinder Sharma, chief spokesman of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC).

“Why different yardsticks for different parties?” asked Sharma. “What to say of province-level leaders, security of even the PCC chief has been withdrawn and he was forced to leave government accommodation,” he said.

Panthers Party chairman Harsh Dev Singh said J&K was heading towards one-party rule as no other political party, except the BJP, was being allowed to conduct its activities.

“Amid politics of coercion, intimidation, detentions and persecution, democracy is gasping for breath in the state. Not only the political parties are scared of the dictatorial regime, even the people also seem reluctant to express their feelings for the fear of reprisal,” he said.