Withdrawing security to political persons will weaken political activities in Kashmir: Omar

Srinagar, Feb 21: Terming withdrawal of security to mainstream political workers and officer bearers as a retrograde step that will only weaken political activity in the valley, National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah asked Governor Satya Pal Malik to reconsider the decision.

Hitting out at the government, Mr Abdullah said he has no doubt that this step was taken without taking in to consideration inputs from central and state intelligence agencies which can only mean it has been done for political purposes. “There is an element of pick and choose at play here,” he said.

“I would like to encourage @jandkgovernor to reconsider this step. If it is not revisited we will approach the courts & ask them to intervene,” Mr Abdullah, who is the former chief minister of J&K, wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

“Withdrawal of security to mainstream political workers & office bearers is a retrograde step that will only weaken political activity in the valley. This is regardless of the fact that no one from @JKNC_ has had their security withdrawn in yesterday’s list,” he twitted.

Mr Abdullah said at a time when mainstream political parties should be encouraged to step up their activities and build greater contact with people to counter the forces that have supported radicalisation and violence, this (withdrawal of security) will have the opposite fallout.

Mr Abdullah was responding to Jammu and Kashmir administration’s decision to withdraw security of 155 political persons, including PDP leader Wahid Parra and IAS officer Shah Faesal. Security cover of 18 separatists was also withdrawn.

The move comes days after a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) fidayeen attack that left 40 CRPF jawans dead on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir district of Pulwama last week.