SRINAGAR, AUGUST 31 : Senior National Conference (NC) leader and Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar, Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, has raised concerns over the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to transfer district police chiefs and a deputy commissioner while the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in effect. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar on Saturday, Ruhullah questioned the timing of these transfers just ahead of the elections, suggesting that such moves could undermine the level playing field promised by the ECI to political parties.
Ruhullah said that NC has written a letter to ECI seeking reasons and an explanation of sorts as to what prompted them to order transfers of police officers at a time when Code of Conduct is in place. “I am surprised Baramulla SSP was transferred within 10 days only and a new one posted there. This is what we were worried about. During our meeting with the ECI in Srinagar, we were assured that no such step would be taken and parties would be given a level playing field,” the NC MP said.
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He said that the party believes it is an attempt to tamper with the level playing field promised to the political parties by the ECI. “Isn’t it surprising to see that a police officer who posted just ten days ago in Baramulla was replaced by a new one? Three more transfers were made and one deputy commissioner was also shifted,” the NC MP said.
Taking a jibe at PDP, NC MP said that the party claims that they are working for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, but where is the solution. “We have promised in our manifesto that we will fight for the restoration of what has been snatched from us. That includes Article 370 as well. We also believe Kashmir is a political issue which needs to be resolved politically,” he said. “We have a resolution in the form of autonomy, let PDP come up with a resolution.”
