Srinagar, Leaders from Jammu and Kashmir’s regional parties, the National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have voiced concerns over what they describe as harassment and illegal detentions of party workers in the lead-up to the Srinagar Lok Sabha elections.
According to Kashmir Media Service, NC candidate for the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, Agha Ruhullah Mehdi, expressed his concerns on social media, stating that NC and PDP workers had been arrested over the past few days. “Our workers are being picked up by the police since yesterday,” Mehdi wrote on Twitter, citing reports of arrests in multiple locations including Chrarsharif, Khansahab, and Chadoora. He demanded the immediate release of those detained.
PDP’s stance was similarly troubled, with leader Firdous Tak calling for an end to the arrests on social media platforms. PDP candidate for the same seat, Waheed Para, alleged that officials in the Jammu and Kashmir administration were attempting to influence the electoral outcome. Para likened the current situation to the controversial 1987 Assembly elections, which were marred by allegations of electoral fraud.
Further exacerbating tensions, Para claimed that police had detained PDP polling agents, a move he suggested was part of broader efforts to rig the elections.
The elections for the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency are scheduled for tomorrow, with these allegations casting a shadow over the electoral proceedings.