More than Rs 10 crore has been spent by the Jammu and Kashmir government on the security of the separatists.
Data presented in the state Assembly reveals that Rs 10.88 crore was spent on the security of the separatist leaders, including moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and former chairpersons Abdul Gani Bhat, Moulana Abbaas Ansari and others.
In a reply to a cut motion by MLA Udampur, Pawan Gupta, the government said it has spent Rs 10.36 crore on the salary of the policemen guarding and protecting the Hurriyat and other separatist leaders. Also, Rs 49.7 lakh has been spent on the fuel for the vehicles used for escorting the separatist leaders.
According to data, Rs 19.51 lakh was provided on the salary of the guards/escort of Mirwaiz in 2017-18. Besides, Rs 77.37 lakh was spent on the guard’s salary in the current fiscal. Since 2008-09, Rs 1.27 crore has been spent on the salary of the guards and escort personnel of Mirwaiz. Similarly, Rs 5.06 crore was spent on the guards’ salary of Mirwaiz since last 10 years.
Security of former Hurriyat chairman Prof Abdul Gani Bhat has cost the state exchequer Rs 2.3 crore in the last 10 years. Similarly, Moulana Abaas security has cost state Rs 3 crore since 2008-09.
State government was also providing security to Mirwaiz’ media secretary Shahid ul Islam till he was arrested by National Investigation Agency in the terror funding case. His security has now been withdrawn. Now the state is providing the security to only 10 separatist leaders, mostly from the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference. Hardline Hurriyat leaders do not enjoy any security cover.
On fuel too
- Rs 49.7 lakh has been spent on the fuel for the vehicles used for escorting the separatist leaders. This was revealed in the Assembly in reply to a cut motion moved by Udampur MLA.
