Little security so unable to campaign, say independent candidates in valley
SRINAGAR: Independent candidates contesting upcoming elections to urban local bodies in the Valley have complained that the administration has not provided them with adequate security despite dire threats from militants.
The candidates accused the BJP of sabotaging their nomination by creating various impediments which they said might force them to withdraw from contesting elections.
They also claimed that, in contrast, each BJP candidate had been provided with three personal security officers (PSOs) and even personal weapons in some cases.
Fazil, 24, who is contesting from ward 62 in Jogi Lanker area of Rainawari in Srinagar, claimed that 79 candidates had been put up in one hotel in Munawarabad in Srinagar with just eight security guards.
“We have been provided with just three vehicles. What campaign can we do with these three vehicles? Three candidates are sharing one room. The promises of chief secretary have evaporated into thin air,” Fazil told ET.
He said independents had little choice but to move in their private vehicles to reach out to the electorate.
“We fought elections to keep the BJP away at least from Srinagar and now they are conniving to sabotage our candidature,” he said.
Militants have threatened to kill or launch acid attacks against those who participate in the elections. On Tuesday night a group of militants thrashed five candidates in Kulgam area of southern Kashmir. In the past three weeks, 13 panchayat ghars have been damaged and petrol bombs hurled at residences of candidates at two places. As per official data, in the past few days posters threating candidates against participating in local polls appeared at 13 places in the Valley.
The candidates accused the BJP of sabotaging their nomination by creating various impediments which they said might force them to withdraw from contesting elections.
They also claimed that, in contrast, each BJP candidate had been provided with three personal security officers (PSOs) and even personal weapons in some cases.
Fazil, 24, who is contesting from ward 62 in Jogi Lanker area of Rainawari in Srinagar, claimed that 79 candidates had been put up in one hotel in Munawarabad in Srinagar with just eight security guards.
“We have been provided with just three vehicles. What campaign can we do with these three vehicles? Three candidates are sharing one room. The promises of chief secretary have evaporated into thin air,” Fazil told ET.
He said independents had little choice but to move in their private vehicles to reach out to the electorate.
“We fought elections to keep the BJP away at least from Srinagar and now they are conniving to sabotage our candidature,” he said.
Militants have threatened to kill or launch acid attacks against those who participate in the elections. On Tuesday night a group of militants thrashed five candidates in Kulgam area of southern Kashmir. In the past three weeks, 13 panchayat ghars have been damaged and petrol bombs hurled at residences of candidates at two places. As per official data, in the past few days posters threating candidates against participating in local polls appeared at 13 places in the Valley.