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| Fearing anti-India slogans, PDP to allow only party workers at PM rally | | |
Early Times Report
srinagar, Nov 5: The PDP-led coalition government's plan to attract huge crowds here for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally on November 7 is facing a major roadblock. Intelligence inputs have suggested that anti-India groups may use the venue for pro-azadi sloganeering.
Sources said even as the PDP wanted each of its legislators to rope in at least 2000 people for Modi's rally, it has been decided that only the party workers who have ID cards formally issued by the party, would be allowed into the SK Cricket Stadium, at Sonawar, which is the event venue.
Sources said apart from security agencies, the PDP was informed by some of its trusted former and serving police officials, who have a credible track record of counterinsurgency in Kashmir and are known to be advising the government on security related issues, that making everyone reach the venue can prove counterproductive.
"There's every possibility that some anti-India elements would try their best to sneak into the rally and create disturbance by raising anti-India and pro-Pak slogans. This is something which can put the government to embarrassment, and to avoid this only the trusted people who are ID-card holders of PDP and BJP will be allowed inside," said a PDP leader pleading anonymity.
He said the party leadership has conveyed the revised plan for the rally to its cadres who are preparing to bring in crowds. The PDP hopes to cash Modi's visit to improve its face in Kashmir through announcement of a mega development package. The PDP aspired to make the rally more historic than the one addressed by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who over a decade back had addressed some 30,000 people at his rally in Srinagar. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Chief Minister then too.
"This time, we wanted the number of people to be much bigger, around 50,000. Because of this we all were trying to rope in as many faces as possible for the rally," the insiders said.
"But now," they said, "the strategy has been changed. We have asked our cadres only to bring along ID card holder workers as their loyalty is trusted."
A senior police official admitted that the crowds at the PM's rally should be "trust worthy". "Many in Kashmir have a bad habit of resorting to anti-India and pro-Pak slogans. This in the past has proved major embarrassment at many rallies including the one addressed by Congress leader Khem Lata Vakhloo. We don't want this to happen again," said the official.
He said this threat perception was more given the fact that separatists have called for a "Million March" on the day to counter Modi's rally. "Such elements will try to make news and we have to be cautious," the official said. |
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