As the eve of electoral proceedings looms over the Srinagar parliamentary constituency, the principal contenders have raised alarms regarding the purported “enforcement of election boycott and apprehensions of party operatives.”
The National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, and Apni Party have lodged grievances against law enforcement for apprehending and confining their operatives within the precincts of the Srinagar parliamentary seat. Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the PDP, dispatched a missive to the Chief Election Commissioner of India, urging immediate and resolute measures to preclude any endeavors at electoral malpractice.
“It has been brought to my attention that the provincial administration, under the auspices of the Union government, is shamelessly embroiled in maneuvers designed to intimidate voters and supporters of the People’s Democratic Party. I am deeply perturbed by accounts of security agencies conducting incursions and subjecting PDP operatives to harassment in the Pulwama and Shopian districts. Scores of party adherents, sympathizers, and campaigners have been arbitrarily detained sans just cause, ostensibly as reprisal for their endeavors to orchestrate public assemblies and galvanize voter participation,” articulated Mehbooba in her epistle to the CEC.
She underscored that the situation has reached a juncture where the “security apparatus is sowing seeds of trepidation” in regions slated for electoral processes on May 13. Altaf Bukhari, of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, also decried the detention of his party’s operatives ahead of the polls. Bukhari accused the NC and PDP of being in cahoots with the administration to apprehend his operatives.
“My party operatives are being ensnared and subjected to harassment. The PDP and NC, erstwhile stewards of the state, have functionaries within the administrative echelons whose directives lead to the apprehension and harassment of my operatives,” Bukhari expounded during a press briefing in Srinagar. The contesting aspirants of the National Conference have also apprised the ECI of these purported detentions.
Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, the National Conference aspirant, asserted that NC operatives were being detained by law enforcement ahead of the balloting in the Srinagar seat. “Our operatives have been rounded up by law enforcement since yesterday. I was apprised by a senior comrade, A R Rather, regarding the apprehensions of our operatives from Chrarsharif. Similar notifications were received from colleagues in Khansahab and Chadoora. Would the @ECISVEEP kindly elucidate these apprehensions? I fervently demand the immediate release of our operatives and those of the PDP if reports of their apprehension are accurate,” Ruhullah expressed on X.
His electoral adversary, Waheed Para of the PDP, likewise alleged that an election “boycott” is being enforced in “PDP strongholds” as party operatives are being detained and subjected to incursions. “The act of rigging, apprehending, and conducting incursions against our operatives, alongside enforcing boycotts in PDP strongholds, starkly contradicts national interests and exacerbates a grave trust deficit. Officials culpable for such actions are betraying the interests of India and quelling the aspirations of Kashmiri youth. Depriving us of a free and fair election is a chilling reminiscent of 1987, posing a threat to democracy itself,” Para articulated on X, while tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and handles of the Election Commission.
In another post on X, Para alleged that ADGP Vijay Kumar purportedly advocated for officials to “diminish voting.” “In the annals of history, Kashmir has witnessed boycotts at the behest of separatist factions. Today, we witness a semblance of the same scenario, with an IPS officer of ADGP rank, Mr. Vijay Kumar, purportedly instructing officials to diminish voter participation by detaining and harassing our operatives. Such actions serve the interests of anti-national factions, not India. @PMOIndia @HMOIndia We beseech the Election Commission of India (ECI) to urgently redress and reassign the official from his pivotal position,” Para tweeted while tagging multiple handles of the Election Commission of India.
The Srinagar parliamentary constituency, sprawling across five districts of Shopian, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Srinagar, and Budgam, encompassing 18 assembly segments and 17.47 lakh electors, is slated for balloting on May 13. The administration has orchestrated comprehensive security and administrative measures to ensure the seamless conduct of the polls, scheduled to commence at 6 in the morning and culminate at 7 in the evening.