Jammu: Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Tuesday said authorities must declare Jammu and Kashmir “risk-free” or ensure security for all, as the National Conference (NC) flagged withdrawal of security from its party headquarters in Srinagar.
“If leaders are not safe, the national flag they hold, unfortunately, will not be safe,” he said, cautioning against a “pick-and-choose” approach and calling for a fair, merit-based security system.
Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat urged the House to adopt a resolution to restore fair and adequate security arrangements, saying the priority should be safeguarding human lives rather than assets.
Concluding a half-hour discussion initiated by National Conference MLAs during Zero Hour on the withdrawal of security from the party headquarters, the ‘Nawai Subuh’ complex in Srinagar, the Speaker said members had been raising the security concerns, including withdrawal of their escort vehicles, which require urgent attention.
“The message from this House is loud and clear: if you do not want to provide security, then declare Jammu and Kashmir a risk-free state.
“But a pick-and-choose approach has no merit. We are not speaking against any institution or the Lieutenant Governor; we are speaking against the system,” the Speaker said.
Referring to the recent alleged assassination attempt on National Conference president Farooq Abdullah at a function here on March 11, he said, “If you are withdrawing security from his office, what message are you sending to the people?”
“He (Abdullah) visits the headquarters quite frequently, and I don’t think it is proper to withdraw security from there. You cannot justify it,” Rather asserted, while thanking members from both the treasury and opposition benches for speaking in one voice on the security concerns.
It was NC MLA Hasnain Masoodi who raised the issue in the Assembly, calling it a “serious and grave” matter, given the recent attack on Abdullah. He was joined by party colleagues, including Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Salman Sagar and Javid Hassan Baig and Congress legislator Nizam-ud-Din Bhat. BJP’s S S Slathia also supported the demand for adequate security to the leaders facing threats.
Sajjad Gani Lone of the Peoples Conference accused NC leaders of politicising the security issue, alleging that his pleas for protection were ignored even when he was going to attend the funeral of his father, Abdul Gani Lone, who was assassinated by terrorists, triggering a heated exchange with NC legislators.
PDP’s Rafiq Ahmad Naik urged NC legislators to place their faith in Almighty Allah, saying that even those with security cover have lost their lives in the past, while others without protection have survived.
Gurezi said the government, which holds full authority and responsibility over security, must take this matter seriously. “If anything untoward happens, the responsibility will lie with the government.”
The Congress legislator Bhat said there are troubling instances where security has been withdrawn without prior notice.
PTI
Declare J&K risk-free or ensure security for all: Speaker
