Qaiser Dar
Srinagar 19 November (KNB): National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti alleged that non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates contesting the District Development Council (DDC) elections in the Union Territory were being locked up by the administration and not allowed to campaign freely.
The two political leaders tweeted a video, in which the Congressman Mohammad Shafi was protesting at the press enclave lane Srinagar.
Shafi said, “At first the government asked us to come forth and nominate for the elections but after submitting our forms we were taken and locked up in the hotel rooms.”
He added, “Their candidates (BJP candidates) have been provided all the facility, PSO’s are there to protect them, they have been provided transportation but for us nothing has been done. This is an absolute betrayal.”
He further goes on to allege the government for intentionally restricting the non-BJP candidates movement and locking them up just after submitting their forms for DDC elections.
He also appealed all the other candidates to not submit the forms, adding, “They (Government) only said so, cause they want the children of JK to fill up the forms of their death.”
PDP leader Mehbooba mufti retweeted Shafi’s video and said, “Non BJP candidates for DDC polls aren’t allowed to campaign freely & are being locked up on the pretence of security. But BJP & its proxies are given full bandobast (arrangements) to move around.”
She further questioned the government, “Is this the democracy that GOI claimed its promoting in yesterday’s phone convo with US Pres elect?”
NC leader Omar Abdullah retweeted Mehbooba’s aforementioned tweet and said, “The J&K administration is going out of its way to help the BJP & it’s recently created king’s party by locking up candidates opposed to the BJP, using security as an excuse.”
He questioned, “If the security situation isn’t conducive to campaigning what was the need to announce elections?”
Pertinently, there have been several other Non-BJP candidates who alleged that JK administration has not allowed them to campaign freely and also complained about the heating arrangement and other facilities at the government allotted places. (KNB)