‘Disowning has downgraded our morale’
Suhail Khan
SRINAGAR, August 25: The panchayat representatives from Kashmir valley who have been stationed at various hotels, guest houses, and other government buildings on Tuesday stated that they are facing ‘detention’ rather than any government protection.
In view of the rising militant attacks on these gross root level representatives across Kashmir, the administration had shifted them to hotels away from their homes in order to prevent any kind of eventuality.
The shifting of these panches and sarpanches started in the last week of July this year.
Earlier it was said that panchayat representatives will be stationed away from their homes till August 15, however, it has been over a month more now that these panches and sarpanches have not been allowed to return to their residences.
Scores of panches and sarpanches while talking to Kashmir Despatch said that feel like they have been ‘arrested’.
“There is a feeling of mistrust, neglect, and isolation. At the time of the election, we stood against the sentiments of our people. We fought elections in a volatile environment”, Mohammad Shafi a panch from north Kashmir told Kashmir Despatch on phone.
He added, “We were promised good salary, accommodation, and more importantly security. But here are we stuck in this hotel far away from family and we are not able to do anything nor for our family and not for those who elected us”.
A councilor from north Kashmir told Kashmir Despatch on the condition of anonymity: “Recently in the name of official work we were called by the police station but we (panch, sarpanch, and councilors) were kept in a government accommodation at Gulmarg, which is like a hell.”
He added, “Believe me, we are in detention. Most panchayat representatives here are without proper clothes; neither are they allowed to visit their families nor are they allowed to visit any markets to purchase new clothes. It has been more than a month now that we are far away from home and it feels like we are detained rather than being protected. And moreover, the administration is yet to decide, where to accommodate us safely.”
A female corporator from north Kashmir pleading anonymity told Kashmir Despatch: “Government is confusing us, first they told us that we will be released on 5th August, then 15th August and then 19th August and now they tell us we will not be released. I.G.P Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that we are not in detention but under protection, but the situation here is completely contrary.”
“No doubt the accommodation and the security provided by the administration is good, however, how long are they going to confine us under one roof. I am so much fed up here that my condition is worsening. We get facilities no doubt but is it the permanent solution to keep us within the four walls and not allow us to serve the people and we have approached higher officials, but we don’t get a positive response from any of them,”.
A BJP affiliated sarpanch from South Kashmir informed Kashmir Despatch “We are going under several problems. First, there is no protection for us outside this hostel, and secondly, the political parties for which we fought disown us if any member among us resigns”,
He added, “So when the political parties disown us, many among us have decided not to resign in order to prevent the consequences. This attitude of political parties for whom we have given our blood and sweat has downgraded our morale.”
Inspector-General of Police Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar last week has said that Sarpanchs, Panchs, and BDC’s have not been detained but kept at safer places till suitable arrangements are made for them.
The development comes after BJP’s two activists were killed in two separate militant attacks in Kashmir valley last week.
Meanwhile, BJP J&K spokesman Altaf Thakur termed the resignation of panchayat representatives as fake saying that those who resigned were never associated with BJP and instead were part of the vested interests who are trying to mislead the media and police.
