Expressing great concern over the increase in targeted killings of political leaders, Congress has asked the govt to step up the vigil and provide adequate security cover to all soft targets including representatives of PRIs in vulnerable areas.

Expressing grave concern over the recent killings of political activists including a BJP leader and earlier two Sarpanchs of Congress in Anantnag, one after another over a gap of few months, the congress has termed it serious threat to the mainstream political leaders and workers and will have serious set back, if remedial measures are not taken immediately.

JKPCC Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma charged that the UT administration had withdrawn or downgraded the security cover of most of the congress leaders and others in the mainstream during past few months while strengthening security cover to BJP leaders and activists besides few others close to the corridors of power.

However the recent killing of the BJP leader despite ten security guards, in close vicinity of police station has shaken confidence of the mainstream activists. It calls for immediate review of the security scenario and security review of the political activists including PRIs in the vulnerable areas irrespective of their affiliation or ideology, who stand for the nation and its democracy.

The security cover should not be decided according to the political affiliation or being close to power but on the role in the mainstream politics which makes them target of the designs of enemies of peace and democracy.

The party expressed concern over the rising incidents of political killings, which is a dangerous trend but regretted that the authorities are not ready to take cognizance of the repeated requests from various quarters regarding security and stepping up vigil in the matter.

It is essential that those who have risked their lives in this serious situation and involved in the political and democratic activities, are protected, as they stand for the nation against all odds. The government should take a call on the security issue without any prejudices, he added.