JK govt withdrawing Cong leaders' security cover to hamper their poll campaign: Mir

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress Tuesday accused the state administration of withdrawing the security cover of several party leaders to hamper their poll campaign, especially in militancy-hit south Kashmir. "The governor's administration has deliberately withdrawn the security cover of Congress leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. The move amounts to restricting the movement of Congress leaders in the upcoming elections, which is not only serious, but highly condemnable," said J-K Pradesh Congress Committee president Ghulam Ahmed Mir. It has also been reported that the security covers of senior leaders and functionaries of other parties too were being withdrawn for "unknown reasons", he added.

On Sunday, Congress announced as its candidate for Anantnag constituency. He will be contesting against PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.

"The lives of the Congress leaders are being put to risk by withdrawing their security," he said.

 "The Congress party, however, will not be cowed down by such pressure tactics," said the J&K Congress president.

"God forbid, if any untoward thing happens to any Congress leader, the state government, especially the security agencies will be solely responsible for it," he warned.

On Tuesday, the government withdrew the official accommodation of Mir.

Congress and National Conference have sealed alliance in Jammu and Kashmir for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said Jammu and Udhampur will be contested by Congress. “I will contest from Srinagar and there will be a friendly contest between NC and Congress in Anantnag and Baramulla. We are also discussing the Ladakh seat,” he said.

Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said, alliance has been finalised in the national interest, to strengthen secular forces in Jammu and Kashmir as the state faces threat from Pakistan. Clarifying on the friendly contest thing Azad said, “friendly contest means that there will be no cut-throat contest between us on these two seats (Anantnag and Baramulla). If either Congress or NC wins, it's a win-win situation for both of us.”