SRINAGAR: The withdrawal of security of several legislators and politicians rocked the J&K Assembly on Tuesday after the governing National Conference (NC) raised the issue and flayed the LG administration for the removal of security at its headquarters in Srinagar, Nawai Subha, even after a recent attack on party president Farooq Abdullah, saying the move risked the lives of its leader and MLAs.Police and security in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir fall under lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha.Echoing concerns raised by NC members, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said the national flag would not be safe in Kashmir if those holding it were unsafe. “Security issues shouldn’t be taken casually in J&K,” Rather said, adding that the administration should either declare J&K a risk-free place for politicians and political parties, or ensure proper security.“Recently, Dr Farooq Abdullah had a narrow escape, and after that, you withdrew security from the NC office, where he goes regularly, which is unfortunate,” the Speaker said. “It is a question of those who raise the Tricolour; they should remain safe.”Congress, too, claimed that the security of its J&K unit chief, Tariq Hameed Karra, had been withdrawn and that police had informed him that they did not have petrol for the escort vehicles and security guards.Earlier, the issue was flagged by NC legislators, with Hasnain Masoodi saying that instead of increasing security at the NC office after the attack on Abdullah, it had been withdrawn, and Nazir Gurezi asserting that the LG administration would be responsible if there was any untoward development. Javed Baig alleged that NC was being particularly targeted, and questioned why security at BJP and RSS offices had not been withdrawn.Salman Sagar, NC MLA from Hazratbal, said security of three Srinagar MLAs had been withdrawn despite being “on the hitlist” of terrorists. “The SHO in my area is telling me not to visit my constituency after 4 pm, and this is happening in Srinagar,” he said.Nizamuddin Bhat, Congress legislator from Bandipora, said security was a common concern for all parties in J&K and should not be treated as a largesse by the administration. He said Karra had told the SSP concerned that he was willing to provide petrol himself, but the security was still removed. Bhat said his own security, too, had been withdrawn despite being from the volatile Bandipora district.Even BJP’s S S Slathia demanded that govt should restore the security of everyone, but added that NC shouldn’t blame BJP, RSS or the LG.
