Cong accuses J-K govt of undermining security of its leaders

Congress today accused the PDP-BJP government of undermining the security of mainstream leaders and senior activists of the opposition party with a design by selectively withdrawing their security cover and exposing them to anti-national forces when militancy has gone up in J-K.

"Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has taken strong exception to the state government's move to selectively withdraw the security cover to leaders and senior activists of the opposition, which amounts to exposing them to the designs of anti-national forces as militancy has gone up," JKPCC Senior Vice President Sham Lal Sharma said.

In a joint statement, expressing serious concerns over growing incidents of militancy and anti-national activities in various parts of the state, he said, undermining the security of the mainstream political leadership in J&K, particularly in Kashmir valley carries a design.

According to Congress, security cover of over 50 of its leaders and activists, including former ministers and MLAs, have been withdrawn while that of JKPCC Chief G A Mir has been drastically reduced, exposing them to the designs of anti- national forces in wake of increased militant activities and increase in recruitments of local militants in Kashmir Valley after Mufti Sayeed took over as state Chief Minister.

Alleging that the state government's move was on selective basis, Congress said, such actions reflect the political vendetta of the present coalition.

"These moves of the government have left mainstream politicians vulnerable to the designs of anti-national forces and hamper the democratic activities of the mainstream opposition, which appears to be the intention behind such vindictive actions of the present government," Sharma alleged in the statement, also signed by other members of the party.

Strongly criticising the move of the government and the concerned agencies, party leaders asked them to desist from such "ill advised" and "politically biased" steps in the sensitive state, where political considerations should not guide the security aspect in the prevailing situation.

Apart from Sharma, former ministers Raman Bhalla, Mula Ram, Kanta Bhan (all Vice President, JKPCC), MLC and party's Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, Rajnesh Sharma (Co Treasurer), former ministers - Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, Manjeet Singh and Shabir Ahmed Khan, and former Congress corporater Manmohan Singh also signed the statement.