Removal of Security Cover is to ‘Incapacitate’ Us: J&K Oppn to EC

The security of 58 former government and police officials was also withdrawn.

The Jammu and Kashmir governor’s administration has withdrawn security cover of more than 700 mainstream political leaders, former ministers and former legislators.

The three major political parties in the Valley – the National Conference, People’s Democratic Party and Congress – have called the step a “sinister plan” to “incapacitate the entire Opposition during the election process,” reported The Indian Express.

According to the report, a top Election Commission official confirmed that the poll panel has received complaints from these three parties.

“The Election Commission will advise the state that if you won’t provide security, you are disturbing the ecosystem because unless they (political workers) are secured, they cannot go for campaigning and canvassing which is an important element in election process.”

An Election Commission Official to The Indian Express

The official added that if EC finds out that there is an attempt to sabotage the election process by withdrawing security of members of political parties, necessary action will be taken.

Direction has been issued by the government that if officers who have been asked to withdraw from guard or personal security duties do not report back, their salary will be deducted, the report added.

A Special Security Review meeting held on 29 March, headed by J&K Chief Secretary B VR Subrahmanyam ordered withdrawal of security of around 500 people. Most of these are political workers, said the report.

This list has 96 leaders and workers of Congress, 78 of National Conference, 66 of BJP, 26 of PDP, 13 of CPI(M), seven of Peoples Democratic Front, five of Awami League, two of Peoples Conference and other parties.

“I got a call from the Governor telling me he disagreed with this security withdrawal and that he had not been kept in the loop on this. He assured me that security (to the political workers) would be restored.”

Omar Abdullah, Former CM of Jammu And Kashmir as quoted by The Indian Express

He added that the governor’s assurance meant nothing.

Sources told The Indian Express that National Conference has “strongly objected to the role of the Chief Secretary in over-ruling the dissent put forth by the J&K Police’s CID and IB in the security review meeting”.

“This is a sinister design to incapacitate all other parties especially in South Kashmir…with an aim to steal the election. They have withdrawn security of some BJP people in Jammu to hoodwink everyone. There is a huge difference in security situation between Jammu and the Valley.”

Mehbooba Mufti, Former CM and PDP leader

ADG Security Muneer Khan said that the list has names from every political party and there has been no bias. When asked about the political parties’ petition to EC, he said, “We will respond to them.”