Kashmir | National Conference, PDP slam ‘pre-poll rigging’ by administration

As Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar parliamentary constituency went to polls under Phase 4 on Monday (May 13), major political parties strongly criticised the election process, saying the Union Territory’s administration tried to “fix” it.

There were allegations of pre-poll ‘rigging’ and ‘detentions’ of scores of political workers and polling agents of the National Conference (NC), led by Farooq Abdullah, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by Mehbooba Mufti.

The NC and PDP claimed their workers and polling agents were summoned or detained in various areas falling under the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. Recent events bring back “haunting memories of the 1987 election rigging”, they say.

Formal protest

Mehbooba Mufti, former J&K Chief Minister, registered her party’s formal protest with the Election Commission (EC) over the “troubling developments”. In a letter addressed to the EC, she said she was “deeply troubled” by reports of government forces’ alleged raids and harassment of PDP workers in south Kashmir’s twin districts of Pulwama and Shopian.

“It is distressing to witness history repeating itself, reminiscent of the 1987 rigged elections that caused immense suffering and political disillusionment in the region,” the letter reads, adding ”the imposition of Section 144 (barring assembly of more than four persons) of the CrPc, prohibiting the assembly of people in areas witnessing high political activities, is shocking and deeply concerning. This arbitrary restriction stifles democratic participation and violates fundamental rights, solely based on anticipated political preferences.”

However, Srinagar’s Deputy Commissioner Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, responding to criticism over the imposition of Section 144 in Pulwama and Shopian, said it was a “normal practice” to do so 48 hours before polling day. “These restrictions are not for normal day-to-day activities. It is a 'silence period' after campaigning. Unfortunately, it has been misconstrued,” he said.

Mehdi’s allegations

Agha Ruhullah Mehdi, NC candidate for the Srinagar constituency, said in a hurried press conference on Sunday afternoon at the party’s Nawa-i-Subah office: “Soldiers of democracy are being summoned and detained. No spirit or principle of constitution is being followed and there is no functional democracy.”

Mehdi said that under the vigil of the EC, “Kashmir is functioning like a police state.” Speaking exclusively to The Federal, Mehdi alleged that Lieutenant General Manoj Sinha-led administration in J&K, controlled directly by the Centre, is “intimidating the people who are resisting the BJP and its proxies in Kashmir.”

The three-time MLA and influential Shia cleric further claimed that the police had been picking up his party workers since May 11. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice concern over the alleged arrest spree of NC workers from various areas in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

NC workers picked up

“Our workers are being picked up by the police since yesterday. I got a call from a senior colleague like AR Rather sb (sahib), informing me about the arrest of our workers from Chrarsharif. Similar calls from the colleagues from Khansahab and Chadoora. Would the @ECISVEEP please care to explain these arrests."

"I also want immediate release of our workers and those of (the) PDP if the reports of their arrests are also correct,” he tweeted.

Ruhullah Mehdi’s political rival Waheed Parra, PDP candidate for the Srinagar LS seat, went a step further, alleging that “an IPS officer of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) rank was directing officials to minimise voter turnout by detaining, harassing our workers.”

“In the past, Kashmir has experienced boycotts at the behest of separatists. Today, we’re with a similar scenario, with an IPS officer of ADGP rank, Mr. Vijay Kumar, allegedly directing officials to minimize voter turnout by detaining, harassing our workers. Such actions serve the interests of anti-national elements, not India,” he tweeted. “We're reaching out to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to urgently address and relocate the official from his sensitive position.”

Both Parra and Mehdi sought urgent intervention by the EC.

Denial by police

However, J&K police denied the political parties’ charges. Responding to the allegations made about arrests, summons and harassment of party workers and polling agents, the police tweeted that it is committed to enforcing the law and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) guidelines “pertaining to security in furtherance of free and fair elections”.

“There have been actions regardless of party affiliation pertaining to violations such as seizure of cash, narcotics, liquor and preventive actions against miscreants and potential offenders with a background of linkages to terrorism and separatism. J&K Police and its leadership is resolved to secure candidates and political workers, their places of stay, political rallies, roadshows irrespective of which party one belongs to, as it considers elections as sacrosanct and all players participating in it are therefore equally sacred and also that together we face a common adversary. History bears testimony to this,” it said.

AP, PC join in

Interestingly, the Apni Party (AP) and the People’s Conference (PC), led by Altaf Bukhari and Sajad Lone, respectively, also alleged that their party workers were picked up by the police.

AP and PC, along with Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), are largely viewed as parties friendly with the BJP.