Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 21 : National Conference on Monday sought judicial probe by a sitting High Court Judge into the killing of Ishtiyaq Choudhry, a youth leader of Kalakote in Rajouri district, allegedly by a VDC member, describing it as a political murder.
Addressing media persons, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said the truth needs to be dug out, as the murder appears to be a sinister machination of muzzling political dissent. He said the murder has been committed by a government gun, held by a VDC member, and the fact that the kin of the victim's family were given compensation as also assurance of job testifies that there is more than what meets the eyes. He said raising voice against irrational distribution of rations does not merit death. "The crime of Block National Conference President Kalakote appears to be just to speak for the exploited poor people of the area", he said and expressed concern over growing incidents of lawlessness under PDP-BJP dispensation.
He also wanted to know whether silencing of Ishtiyaq Choudhry was an attempt to shield anyone with a larger political design carried out under a well conceived conspiracy.
He said that the gruesome murder has created anguish in the party cadre of the area and senior National Conference leaders were camping there to monitor the situation and to cool down tempers. "As a responsible political party we are doing our best to ensure that situation does not go out of control but at the same time we want to emphasise need for a thorough judicial probe to unmask the real perpetrators", he said adding that the people have right to know who was calling the shots under veils.
To a question whether the murder was a handiwork of ration mafia, which has become active for the past few months, he said this can be ascertained only a judicial probe. He, however, expressed concern over the atmosphere of fear being generated to muzzle the political dissent. He said the coalition dispensation seems to believe in the doctrine of 'my way, our way or a highway', which, in any case, was against the democratic spirit. He said National Conference cannot be bogged down by coercive tactics and asserted, "we are ready to offer any sacrifice for upholding democratic values". He said history is replete of instances when National Conference stood for the just cause of people and offereced numerous sacrifices. |
