Other States - Jammu & Kashmir   

PDP threat to pull out of polls

By Shujaat Bukhari

The PDP president, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and vice-president, Muzaffar Hussain Beig, at an election rally in Pampore on Thursday. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad

SRINAGAR SEPT. 26. Jammu and Kashmir's main opposition party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), today threatened to pull out from the elections accusing the police top brass of working for the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, to ensure his party's victory in South Kashmir.

The PDP vice-president, Muzaffar Hussain Beig, alleged that the State police chief (A.K. Suri) had conducted a meeting of police officers in south Kashmir and told them to "forget the directions of Election Commission and help the National Conference".

Mr. Beig said that though the first two phases of elections were conducted satisfactorily, the police have started behaving differently.

The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were not safe and were being protected by the central forces, which were under the Home Ministry, he said, adding "the Election Commission should ensure that these are really protected".

Mr. Beig alleged that the police were all out to ensure the "victory of NC in South Kashmir". "They are behaving like a card holders of the NC".

He alleged that on Wednesday, the ruling party's candidate from Shangus attacked the PDP vice-president Mehbooba Mufti's rally with the help of the police and the National Security Organisation (NSO), an outfit floated by the Government. "The Station House Officer, Achabal, sided with the NC supporters and did not give protection to our people," he said.

"We urge the Election Commission to restrain the security forces and the police and ensure protection of the EVMs and if it is not done, we may have to withdraw from the elections," he said.

The PDP leader said that Dr. Abdullah after the "unfavourable polling against his son, Omar, in Ganderbal was bent upon taking revenge".

"He would like to ensure Mehbooba's defeat from Pahalgam,'' he said adding Dr. Abdullah had gone on record in the State Assembly that he would ensure Mehbooba's defeat.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• PDP threat to pull out of polls

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu