Police rule in Kashmir: NC Parliamentarian

Saying police and not the civilian government is running affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, ruling National Conference Member Parliament Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri  reiterated that political advisor of the chief minister is responsible for “disenchantment and unrest” within the NC and the government. He said there is “gradual disempowerment” of Kashmiris on political and development fronts.
Ratanpuri said government took action against two police officers in Jammu for using foul language against some politicians. “But this selective approach of the government towards two similar issues is enough proof of differential treatment with Kashmiris,” he added.

Elaborating his response on the issue, he said, “Action was taken against police officers who used foul language against Jammu politicians, while as no action was taken against SSP Pulwama who misbehaved with me. I believe that Kashmiris from a Kashmiri young boy in the street to a Kashmiri nationalist politician in the Parliament of India are all absolutely disempowered.”

The noted broadcaster of Kashmir, who is a Rajya Sabha MP of the ruling NC, further hinted that the “transgression of limits” and “extra-constitutional tactics” by certain police officers and their chief against him is being “patronized by political and administrative bosses.”  “This is a pitiful situation,” he said.

Asked why he didn’t approach his party about this “pitiful situation,” he said that in the important working committee held amid turmoil last year, he raised the issues of “police high-handedness and well-designed discrimination” against Kashmir and Kashmiris.

“I brought specific instances of such discrimination against Kashmir industry, Kashmiri officers and allocation of funds in Kashmir. Though I just sought inquiry into such things and didn’t point fingers towards anybody, but the political advisor to the chief minister reacted by defending himself. He was interrupted by CM, who took upon himself his aides’ defence,” Ratanpuri said.

“In the process CM lost his cool too and uttered bad words towards me. I tried to forget that episode in the interests of party but he has shown no inclination to forget my plain talk,” he claimed.

Without naming anybody Ratanpuri said CM’s “close aides” have used all ammunition, fair and unfair to make him (Ratanpuri) uncomfortable in the party.

The NC leader claimed that several other leaders in the party have been made “uncomfortable by CM’s aides. “After talking to almost everybody I discovered that even ministers are not comfortable, as our party has off late lost character of free and frank expression. But there are hush voices of dissent and protest.”

Making stunning revelations, the NC MP said he has been told that an NC minister is denied free and frequent access to his constituency, while the patron of PDP is provided huge security and SPOs in civvies as audience to roam around in Downtown.

“I have heard that one cabinet minister of our party does not get the PSO of his choice. I have been told that planning department is without a full-time head, and many directors for the past half a year. This all is an embarrassing and detrimental scenario for our party,” he added.

Saying that police and not the NC-led government is running affairs in J&K, Ratanpuri said, “DGP is encouraging rogue elements within the force and non-state actors which is badly impacting the image of the state police force. His poor command and control is one of the causes of loss of civilian deaths last year which could have been otherwise saved.”

Hinting that certain people in the government were working against the basic ideology of NC, Ratanpuri said, “some people whose families have betrayed Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and done everything within their powers to demean him, his ideology, his politics and his political party are usurping the NC and its government today. This is a warning for NC. Sooner its taken serious the better it would be.”