Opposition National Conference today accused the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led Jammu and Kashmir government and the state police of withdrawing the security cover of several party leaders and activists in the state, thus putting their lives at "risk".
"In the last few days, security has been withdrawn from a number of party leaders and activists without any legal or legitimate reasons being stated. This is an extremely deplorable turn of events and speaks volumes about the intolerance, arrogance and political impropriety of the ruling PDP-BJP alliance in the state," NC spokesperson Junaid Mattu said after a meeting of the opposition party.
"Apparently some of our police officers are being called and coerced by ministers and MLAs of the PDP-BJP alliance to withdraw security covers to various National Conference leaders and office bearers," he added.
Mattu said it was "tragic and unfortunate" that the police top brass was allowing an unprecedented politicisation of its duties by the incumbent chief minister and his political party.
The opposition party asked the DGP to take cognisance of the fact that protected, security-categorised political leaders and activists of the party had been left without any security.
"The system of assessing the threat to the life of a political leader or activist is not a political process. The J-K police is not a political wing of the ruling PDP-BJP alliance. The value of an individual's life is not a derivative of the seating arrangement in the Legislative Assembly... The DGP should approach the governor and the Union Home Ministry to inform them," Mattu added.
The National Conference spokesperson cautioned the chief minister and the state government from resorting to "illegitimate abuse of the system and the institutions" to further a malicious political agenda of retribution of vengeance.
