Omar Abdullah Alleges Discriminatory Handling of NC and BJP Protests in Srinagar

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused the security and administrative establishment of adopting a discriminatory approach in dealing with two separate protest demonstrations held in the capital, Srinagar,     earlier in the day, one organised by his National Conference (NC) and the other by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Rejecting any attempt to draw parallels between the two events, Abdullah asserted that the administration and police treated the two political parties in markedly different ways, exposing what he described as a clear bias in the handling of public protests.

Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said there was "no comparison" between the manner in which the two demonstrations were managed by the authorities. According to him, while the BJP protest was allowed to proceed unhindered, the NC's programme was met with force and restrictions. "One was facilitated and one was brutally repressed," Abdullah remarked, underscoring what he called the stark contrast in the administration's response.

Abdullah alleged that several NC workers were manhandled by security personnel during the protest, with some sustaining injuries severe enough to require hospitalisation. He claimed that party activists were dragged and prevented from carrying out their demonstration, while BJP supporters faced no such obstacles. "The difference in the treatment of the two protests was visible to everyone. You saw the BJP being allowed to protest and the National Conference not being allowed," he said, adding that the unequal response was evident to both participants and the wider public.

The Chief Minister further pointed to what he described as unrestricted media access during the BJP demonstration as another example of the contrasting treatment. He noted that journalists were able to freely interact with and interview the Leader of the Opposition during the BJP protest, suggesting that similar access and freedom were not available during the NC programme.

Describing the episode as reflective of the broader political environment prevailing in J&K, Abdullah argued that the authorities appeared willing to permit protests directed at his government while preventing demonstrations targeting the BJP. "If you want to march to the Chief Minister's residence, you are allowed. If you want to gherao the Civil Secretariat, you are allowed. But if you want to protest outside the BJP office, you will not be allowed," he said.

The Chief Minister's remarks come against the backdrop of J&K's status as a Union Territory, where key subjects such as law and order and the police administration fall directly under the jurisdiction of the Lieutenant Governor, who is appointed by the Centre. Abdullah's comments therefore carry broader political significance, as they raise questions about the neutrality of the security apparatus and the administration's handling of political dissent in the Union Territory. 

In a sharp and somewhat ironic criticism of the administration, former Chief Minister and People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti accused the authorities of applying double standards when dealing with political protests in the Union Territory.

Reacting to the day's developments, Mufti said that while the administration had facilitated protests by both the BJP and the NC, her party continued to face restrictions even when attempting to stage peaceful demonstrations on public issues. "The very same police that won't allow the PDP to step outside its office to hold a peaceful protest on public issues have facilitated both the BJP and the NC to protest against each other," she said in a post on 'X'.

Her remarks highlighted what she described as an inconsistent approach by the authorities towards different political parties, adding another dimension to the debate over the administration's handling of dissent and political activity in J&K.