The PDP says that the Centre was using NIA to target its youth wing leader Waheed Para, who was to contest the upcoming DDC election from Pulwama.
The Government of India used the National Investigative Agency (NIA) to arrest its youth leader Waheed Para, who was supposed to contest in the District Development Council (DDC) polls, asserted the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on November 25.
"Ahead of the DDC election, which was purportedly supposed to give an opportunity to a new youth leadership in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of India through its ruthless brigade arrested Waheed Ur Rehman Para," said a statement released by the PDP.
Para, who PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's close aide, was arrested by the NIA in Delhi, for his alleged involvement with Hizbul Mujahideen commander Naveed Babu.
Referring to his arrest, the party statement read, "PDP’s youth leader Waheed Para was supposed to contest the polls from his home constituency in Pulwama. He was arrested immediately after filing the nomination for the polls - a clear attempt by a central agency meddling into the electoral process and influencing it in favour of the cronies of New Delhi."
The first phase of the DDC polls is scheduled on November 28.
Condemning the arrest, the statement called it "New Delhi’s latest ruthless action against its youth leader who was a beacon of change in the society and always upheld the values and principles of nonviolence and democratic engagement."
"Waheed’s arrest signals the level of depravity to which the BJP and RSS can go in targeting and damaging its political opponents. These actions of New Delhi will not deter the PDP. Our actions and our voices will become louder," the statement added.
Emphasising on Para's position, the PDP statement said, "Even after being placed under detention as well as house arrest for more than a year, his belief in democracy and in the power of people's mandate led him to file his nomination for DDC elections. And his return for investing his past, present and future in the democratic functioning of a volatile zone such as Kashmir has cost him his own freedom."
Everyone is keenly watching the DDC polls as they are the first elections taking place in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir since its bifurcation and abrogation of Article 370 that gave it its special status in August 2019.
The PDP statement goes on to say, "While we in J&K are seeing how the BJP is constantly favouring and protecting its own candidates for the upcoming elections. A very important member of our party is being targeted for not only voicing his stand against the ills of the administration but also having the sheer courage to contest in elections after repeated harassment at the hands of the state."
The fight is between the BJP that brought about the sweeping changes and the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), which consists of the mainstream political parties in the valley.
"Being a part of the PAGD, we have also come across how leaders from the alliance are stopped from campaigning and now we see that the leaders who have filed their nominations are being targeted for trying to democratically steer the needs of their people forward," elaborated the party's statement.
Criticising the BJP for its conduct, it said, "The BJP has to face the facts that elections are not meant to favour the favourites rather, elections are meant for people to elect their representatives who they see fit to run their area. Installing puppets and criminalizing genuine efforts towards democratic functioning in Kashmir is how the BJP greatly undermines the spirit of democracy."
The PDP had come in alliance with the BJP previously to make the government in the state.
"During the PDP-BJP government (during which he was appreciated by the offices of the former Home Minister of India, Rajnath Singh for his relentless efforts at connecting with disgruntled Kashmiri youth) but has also been instrumental in the reconciliation process," the statement said.
"Not only in Kashmir but everywhere across India, criminalising dissent has become the order of the day for the BJP regime. After dislodging the space for mainstream politics, caging Kashmiris in jails and in homes, BJP government has now resorted to arm twisting the mainstream politicians into obedience through covert threats and intimidation," added the statement.
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