Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Jan 25: Tension gripped the entire Mendhar town this afternoon as hundreds of workers of PDP came out on the road and started massive protest demonstration against the NC-led State Government for allegedly keeping local MLA, Sardar Rafiq Hussain Khan from PDP, away from the official Republic Day function.
A large number of PDP workers led by Nadeem Ahmed Khan, State general secretary PDP youth wing and other senior party leaders Maroof Ahmed and Wasim Ahmed Khan came out on the road and raised barricades. The market was also closed sensing trouble. A strong mob of PDP workers and supporters of MLA had assembled in the town to lodge strong protest against the State Government. They stalled the movement of traffic on the road.
They were shouting slogans against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Commissioner Poonch. They alleged that in all the Assembly segments as per standing Government order, respective MLAs will hoist National Flag in the Republic Day function but for Mendhar constituency a separate order was issued by the GAD on the behest of Chief Minister that SDM Mendhar would hoist the National Flag tomorrow at the official function.
By playing dirty politics and providing political gains to local NC leader and Dy Chairman Legislative Council Javed Rana, the NC leadership asked GAD to issue controversial order and keep MLA away from the official.
Tension gripped the entire town over the issue. While SHO and the SDM Romesh Kumar reached the spot to defuse the situation, Addl SP Poonch Amit Gupta and Addl DC also rushed there sensing law and order problem. Additional police and paramilitary forces rushed to spot. The local shopkeepers closed market and movement of vehicles also came to grinding halt.
MLA later told Excelsior that by issuing such a controversial order by GAD on behest of NC leadership and that too, for Mendhar, keeping public representative (MLA) away from official Republic Day function, the Omar Government has been exposed for its nefarious designs. He said order of January 6 issued by GAD has clearly mentioned about the MLAs to host tri-colour in their respective constituencies but another order was issued on January 24, only for Mendhar constituency because it is represented by PDP and NC wanted to provide political advantage to its local leader Javed Rana. He said that PDP workers would not allow it to happen and for any law and order sitatuation, Government will be responsible.
Meanwhile, the PDP workers held protest up to 8 pm and then dispersed. They warned to storm into official function venue along with MLA tomorrow morning and only MLA would be allowed to hoist National Flag there.
Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Sajjad Ahmed Khan when contacted said that he and SP Poonch were cosely monitoring the situation. Additional deployment of police force has been made. He said that he personally spoke to the MLA and requested him to maintain peace and calm. He said the protest has been stopped now and party workers have returned.
Replying to another question the DC said, “Till late this evening, there was no communication from the higher authorities regarding any change in tomorrow’s programme at Mendhar. No doubt, the situation was explosive in the border town of Mendhar. We are keeping close eye on the situation and will take appropriate decision assessing the situation tomorrow”, Khan maintained.
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