Curbs on J&K Oppn leaders go

Jammu, October 1

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has set in motion the process to set free political leaders in the state with restrictions on the movement of leaders of the National Conference, Congress and other parties lifted  on Tuesday evening  at a time when the authorities are gearing up for the first-ever Block Development Council elections.

NC leaders, including provincial president Devender Singh Rana, were told that restrictions on their movement outside their homes had been lifted. The same was for National Panthers Party leader Harshdev Singh and  senior Congress leader Vakar Rasool. These leaders were under house arrest since August 4 midnight. Rana told  The Tribune over the phone that  he and his colleagues — former minister Surjit Singh Salathia and Javed Rana — had been told they could move about freely as “all restrictions have been lifted.” The timing suggests an intrinsic link  with the holding of BDC polls, scheduled for October 24, which are being held on party basis, unlike the panchayat poll earlier. The move is also aimed at blunting criticism at the national  and international fora on continuing detentions in J&K. Among those still in detention are ex-CMs Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

Senior Congress leader  Raman Bhalla, under house arrest in Jammu, said he had not received any such communication from the authorities . “The security is still outside my house. The government does not want us to raise issues concerning privatisation of the power development department and additional toll tax plazas.”