Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 31: Ahead of the Assembly polls, the Jammu and Kashmir government is planning to restore security of “all the released politicians, who prior to August 5, 2019 enjoyed such security cover.”
Sources said New Delhi was actively considering restoration of the security cover to all such mainstream politicians irrespective of political ideologies such that any discrimination doesn’t take place and that political activities gain momentum to its fullest.
“There was feedback from political circles that only particular group of Kashmiri politicians were getting back security so a revised plan is underway because India is world’s largest working democracy and every politician has equal rights in such cases,” said a politician from a ruling party in know of the matter.
He said the restoration of security was equally important to give a fillip to the political activities in the militancy infested region. “To be on the field, they(politicians) will need security cover,” he added.
Sources said after a meeting on the issue in the national capital, the Jammu and Kashmir government would opt for a similar process to review the matter and grant security.
On the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state, the government had withdrawn security cover of around four dozen politicians most of whom were taken into custody. “But with over two dozen of them having already been released, their security is being restored soon,” said a source in the government. Sources said while the security cover to many of those released in the last few months has already been restored, the security cover of those still behind the bars would also be given back “as per the need.”
Sources said the Modi-government in the center doesn’t want any “undue criticism to leave any space for discrimination on political lines.”
While most of the politicians have been released, over a dozen others are still under detention. They include three former chief ministers – Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. |
