Cong seeks answers over downgrading of security cover to Cong, other MLAs

JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla, chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma & others at a press conference in Jammu. — Excelsior/Rakesh
JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla, chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma & others at a press conference in Jammu. — Excelsior/Rakesh

*Assembly should discuss measures to minimize war impact
Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 26: Hitting hard the Home Ministry and the LG administration for withdrawal of security escort and downgrading of the security of Congress MLAs and others on selective basis, Congress has sought answers over this vindictive and discriminatory approach of the authorities in the duel control system in absence of any accountability due to the failure of the Centre Government to restore the promise statehood.

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Addressing a press conference at PCC office here this evening, JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla, former minister Mula Ram, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, Ved Mahajan along with others, the party strongly criticized the selective and vindictive actions in the matter of security and questioned if the lives of elected MLAs are less important than top ranking police and civil bureaucrats, who avail more security over than elected representatives and other veteran leaders of non-BJPs parties.
They questioned the sudden withdrawal of security escort to PCC president and CLP Leader and other Congress MLAs and also MLAs of other parties on selective basis on the eve of resumption of Assembly session and asked if the same yardsticks were applied to the high ranking police and civil officers, as MLAs are elected representatives and above Chief Secretary and DGP in protocol and facing risk to their lives. Even middle rank police officers avail more security cover than MLAs and top ranking political leaders of non BJP parties. Such arbitrary selective and discriminatory actions are highly condemnable, even after Pahalgam attack and serious attempt on the life of Dr Farooq Abdullah.
The Congress leaders said that Assembly is resuming session for few days only and people of different suffering sections are keeping high hopes on positive discussions and outcomes in the Assembly debates, which should focus on urgent issues, rather than playing to the gallery for cheap publicity by few parties. Explaining the burning issues, they said that war situation has hit the people hard and people are facing acute crises on various fronts; like LPG and fuel and here is a panic like situation after the speech of the Prime Minister referring to the Lockdown situation. The Assembly should debate on it and find out the steps to minimize the expected sufferings in the days to come.
They said that PCC Chief had submitted certain resolutions on behalf of party regarding the regularisation of daily wagers, need based, contractual, temporary and other such workers and employees working on different nomenclatures for years, besides the issue of refugees of 1947, 1965 & 1971 and the issues of KPs and the issues of flood affected people but these were not listed, due to some system of selection for listing.
They said Assembly must unanimously pass a resolution for sanction of full package of 2014 recommended by NC-Congress Govt for refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 by the Centre. They expressed grave concern over the alleged custodial death of Balbinder Singh, a BSF Jawan and demanded a fair CBI probe to bring out complete truth.