Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 1: While as senior party leaders are enjoying adequate security cover to conduct their political activities, second rung BJP are vulnerable to terror attack in Kashmir Valley.
Terror attack on the residence of BJP leader Mohammad Anwar Khan is another incident where terrorists have chosen ‘soft-targets’ to accomplish their nefarious designs.
Just two days back attack on two Municipal Councillors, who were supported by BJP and a cop were killed in a terror attack in Sopore.
Interestingly J&K government is spending a whooping amount worth Rs 10 crore every month to provide security to politicians but second rung leaders of most of the parties are still without any security.
Killing of two councilors followed by deadly attack on Anwar Khan’s residence has exposed the ‘security’ being provided to the second rung politicians of the main stream political parties in general and BJP in particular.
In the year 2019, over a dozen BJP leaders were martyred by terrorists in different attacks.
The authorities have purchased fresh vehicles to ensure security of sitting and former legislators but no sincere efforts have been made to protect lives of the second rung leaders. 114 former legislators have been provided 150 security vehicles by the authorities.
Ironically 25 leaders of the J&K have been provided Z plus security but majority of the second rung leaders of main stream political parties, who are working at the grounds, are without any security. Instead of providing security to genuine ground level politicians, guards have been provided to relatives and family members of senior politicians.
• On March 29, 2021, two councilors namely Riyaz Ahmad and Shams-ud-din Peer along with a cop Shafqat Ahmed attained martyrdom in a terror attack. Both the martyr councilors were close relatives.
• On October 30, 2020, three BJP workers including the district general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), were killed by terrorists in Kulgam.
• On July 8, 2020, a senior party leader in Bandipore, Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father and brother, who were also with the BJP, were killed outside their house.
• On August 9, 2020, Abdul Hameed Najar, president of the BJP’s OBC Morcha in Budgam, was shot at. He died the next day.
• On August 6, 2020, a BJP sarpanch, Sajad Ahmad Khanday, was killed in Qazigund, in Kulgam district. Khanday, who was living in a guarded accommodation provided by the government, had gone home when he was attacked.
• On August 5, 2020, militants shot at another BJP sarpanch, Arif Ahmad, in Akhran village of Qazigund. Ahmad was injured in the attack. |
