Srinagar, Aug 29 (KNS): As threat among Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and leaders increases in South Kashmir, The Bharatiya Janata Party Wednesday said that it has demanded security cover for more “leaders” in Kashmir.
“We have taken up the issue with the Director General of Police, S. P Vaid. Already security and accommodation have been provided to some leaders. But the fresh list of other members facing threat has been provided to the police,” Avinash Rai Khana told KNS over phone.
He said that it is the responsibility of state government to provide the security to political leader’s facing any threat. “The party has also raised the security related issue of BJP leaders in Kashmir with the state government at highest level,” he maintained.
Khana further though said that the party is gearing up for municipal elections, but admitted that the attacks have rattled the local BJP activists, and have told the party that they were finding it difficult to move around.
He said that the attacks are meant to lower the morale of the BJP leaders and workers. “But these attacks won’t do that. The party is getting strengthened day by day in Kashmir,” he said.
Avinash Rai Khanna, had visited Bhat's house in Pulwama after his death.
One of the top state BJP leaders told KNS that the party has demanded security cover for 32 leaders and that the list has been forwarded to the DGP. “We have demanded security as well as some bullet proof vehicles for the leaders facing threat,” the BJP leader said wished not to be named.
It is to mention here that BJP had earlier demanded security cover for more than 30 “leaders” in Kashmir.
Sources said that the killing of a Bharatiya Janata Party worker on Eid in Pulwama district of southern Kashmir has forced many party workers to move temporarily to the summer capital Srinagar while some have reportedly offered resignations.
In Pulwama, on the day of Eid the unidentified gunmen killed Shabir Ahmad Bhat, a BJP worker. Bhat was kidnapped and his bullet-riddled body was found in the fields in Rakh-e-Litter area of the district.
Sources said that feeling threatened by the killing of Bhat, many BJP activists have fled from the district. It was also seen on social media that few political workers offer to resign and apologise for their association with mainstream political parties. (KNS)