Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Wednesday decried the administration for not ensuring level playing field to all contesting Candidates during the ongoing DDC elections, saying the measure of providing selective security has put the lives of contestants in peril.
Party’s District President Kupwara and former MLC Qaisar Jamsheed Lone while expressing concern over the selective approach of the government towards ensuring the security of all contesting candidates in Lolab, said the undue discrimination has put the safety and security of contesting candidates in peril. He said that it would not be out of place to say that such measures as confining contesting candidates to hotels, and denying due security cover was apparently done to hamper them from canvassing and massive public outreach. “The entire administrative apparatus seems to be out and out helping only BJP and its stooges putting the safety and security of non BJP contesting candidates in peril. My own security cover has been removed despite having lost my close family members to assassins. The civil and police administration is not abiding by the established rules of providing security cover to public personalities following due review of their threat perceptions. Contrarily, the security is being provided by giving a ditch to all norms,” he said.
He said the non- BJP contesting candidates are finding it very difficult to canvass and garner support on account of the wanton discrimination being meted out to them. “I urge the election commission to rise up to its commitments and live up to its obligations to ensure a level playing field to all contesting candidates. In case the security requirements of all the contesting candidates are not met with adequately, the onus of any untoward incident will be on the government itself. In my case also, if God forbid any untoward takes place, the onus will squarely lie on the government,” he added.

KR Desk