Former Jammu and Kashmir Important Minister and Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Might 12 sought intervention of the Election Fee of Republic of India (ECI) to prohibit “1987-style rigging and intimidation of voters and PDP supporters”. Nationwide Convention (NC) candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi additionally alleged his supporters had been being rounded up within the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat a hour forward of polling.
“The State administration, under the control of the Union government, is shamelessly engaged in activities aimed at intimidating voters and supporters of the PDP. I am deeply troubled by reports of security agencies conducting raids and harassing PDP workers in Pulwama and Shopian districts. Numerous party members, sympathizers, and activists have been arbitrarily detained without justification, apparently as punishment for their efforts to organize public rallies and encourage voter turnout,” Ms. Mufti stated, within the letter addressed to the ECI.
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She stated it was once crucial that each election government and Shape officers advertise political participation and assure an even electoral procedure. “However, recent actions, such as the delay in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, have raised serious concerns about the Commission’s impartiality and emboldened those who seek to manipulate the electoral outcome through coercion and intimidation,” Ms. Mufti stated.
She stated the status has escalated to some extent the place the protection established order is “instilling a climate of fear in areas slated for elections on May 13”. “This appears to be a direct result of public threats made by J&K Apni Party, which has openly called for the arrest of PDP supporters. It is distressing to witness history repeating itself, reminiscent of the 1987 rigged elections that caused immense suffering and political disillusionment in the region,” Ms. Mufti stated.
Ms. Mufti’s letter to the ECI got here within the wake of a layout of tweets through PDP candidate Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, alleging crackdown on his supporters. “Rigging, arresting, and raiding our workers, alongside enforcing boycotts in PDP areas, blatantly contradicts national interests and fuels serious trust deficit. Those officials responsible for such actions are betraying Indian interests and extinguishing the hopes of Kashmir youth. Denying us a free and fair election is a grim echo of 1987, a threat to democracy itself,” Mr. Parra stated, in a put up on X. He tagged Top Minister Narendra Modi and Union House Minister Amit Shah within the put up.
PDP candidate Parra has sought an motion towards a senior IPS police, accusing him of plotting to attenuate voter turnout. “In the past, Kashmir has experienced boycotts at the behest of separatists. Today, we’re witnessing a similar scenario, with an IPS officer of ADGP rank, Mr. Vijay Kumar, allegedly directing officials to minimize voter turnout by detaining, harassing our workers. Such actions serve the interests of anti-national elements, not India. We’re reaching out to the ECI to urgently address and relocate the official from his sensitive position,” Mr. Parra stated.
In the meantime, J&Ok Apni Celebration common secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir stated the police have arrested a immense choice of the birthday celebration employees in numerous subjects in Srinagar, Budgam, Pulwama, and Shopian. “These arrests seemingly have been made at the behest of parties like NC and PDP, who are cronies of the powers in New Delhi,” Mr. Mir stated, in a observation.
He threatened to boycott the elections if “the democratic process is not free and fair”. “The arrest of party workers mere hours before the polls suggests a blatant attempt to manipulate and rig the elections. We will not tolerate this injustice, and go to boycott the polls,” Mr. Mir stated.
