Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 19: The Congress Party has lodged its strong protest with the Union Home Minister for the alleged mass withdrawal of security of its leaders in J&K State by the PDP-BJP Coalition Government, alleging the move as totally bias, making political activists as soft targets and “sitting ducks” for the terrorists operating in the State.
Former Union Health Minister and Leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad in a letter to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, has said that hundreds of BJP and PDP workers and their sympathisers, even many of whom hardly played any role in politics, have been provided security cover in the State, while the security of many Congress leaders has been withdrawn, exposing them to the bullets of terrorists.
While citing recent increase in the terrorist activities in the State, Mr Azad asked the Home Minister to restore the withdrawn security.
“In the wake of heightened terror activities, quite intriguingly, there has been mass withdrawal of personal security and vehicles of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), District Congress Committee (DCC) and Block Congress Committee (BCC) level office bearers of Congress party across the State, especially Kashmir Valley, Chenab and Pir Panjal region. Even the security complement of PCC president and senior level leaders across the State has been downgraded drastically in a whimsical and selective fashion,” Mr Azad maintained.
” Had it been done on a rational and non-partisan basis, and in an improving security environment, it would not have caused any heart burn. However, the manner it has been done by the State Government, regrettably reeks of political bias. Hundreds of political activists, in a sudden move, have been made soft targets and sitting ducks to the bullets of terrorists operating in the state,” Mr Azad said.
” Quite surprisingly, hundreds of BJP and PDP workers and even their sympathisers have been provided security cover, and many of them have hardly played any role in politics. There are instances that a few shop owners in Chenab Valley having no concern with politics have been provided security cover,” he added.
Mr Azad said as the decision of State Government has generated anxiety and fear among political leaders or activists and their families, it may be fair and prudent to take all necessary steps to safeguard the lives of nationalist people in a State.
The top AICC leader requested the Home Minister to direct the State Government and concerned agencies to have a dispassionate look at the whole issue, without getting swayed by partisan considerations and restore the withdrawn security and vehicles of political workers of Congress party in the J&K State.
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