The government must put country above party and ensure fair competition

When the elections began, it was assumed that the state machinery would do everything in its power to ensure the victory of Sajad’s candidates. But it soon became obvious (at least to those paying attention) that the camera had switched to giving Rashid’s men the best shot.

Sajad then upped the ante by publicly raising slogans aimed directly at Prime Minister Modi and smacking of secessionism: “Jo Modi ka yaar hai, woh gaddaar hai, gaddaar hai– he roared.Hamaari viraasat, Abdul Ghani Lone hai– he added, referring to his father, who was a prominent member of the secessionist Hurriyat Conference for nine years, until his assassination in 2002.

Rashid, on the other hand, even after taking oath as an MP, refused to clearly assert that he was a Hindu. “People have lost the right to ask me if I am from India because I am not treated as an Indian, even after I became Baramulla MP,” he was quoted as saying after his release from prison two weeks ago.