Sajad Gani Lone concerned over arrests

Srinagar, May 12: Peoples Conference (PC) President Sajad Gani Lone today expressed concern over arrests and harassment of his party workers “on the grounds of being over ground workers (OGWs) and other flimsy pretexts.”

According to a local news agency, KNS, he appealed to the Election Commission and administration to uphold the principles of fairness and impartiality in the electoral process and not target parties and their workers selectively.

Echoing the sentiments expressed by Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Lone said, “I wholeheartedly agree with Altaf Bukhari that workers are being picked up and locked up on OGW grounds and other flimsy pretexts. Incidentally all these OGW lists have been prepared during NC regimes”, he said

The PC President urged the Election Commission and the administration to ensure a level playing field for all political entities.

“We appeal to ECI to not be selective. And also look at the history and context of lists in the police stations. These are mostly lists prepared by NC”, he added.

Lone further asserted that the NC is desperate to play the victim card and enact a theatre of victimhood. He said that the Kashmiris are the victims of NC.

“The status-quoist ecosystem is in full play. Those who believe in political changelessness in Kashmir are at work as in the past. Additionally the tourist/ tarbaaz is enacting a theatre of victimhood”, he added.