Candidates in Punjab, Haryana wear bulletproof vests while campaining

CHANDIGARH: A spotless white kurta and a sleeveless jacket is not the only attire of Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) chief Kuldeep Bishnoi, contesting from Hisar in the Lok Sabha elections. Behind the jacket is a thin bulletproof vest, which is not obvious but is a must for many candidates in Punjab and Haryana.

Local leaders give two reasons for donning the modern-day armour. The two states have a history of violence during elections, and a posse of armed guards makes it difficult to reach out to voters. Many admit to wearing the vests but prefer to remain anonymous as they don’t want to be seen as scared.

Devi Lal Bishnoi, a close aide of the HJC chief said, “We have been in opposition for the past six years. As all security cover has been withdrawn . We have to take these measures.” Suppliers of bulletproof vests in New Delhi, Meerut and Mumbai have seen as a surge in demand from Punjab, Haryana, western UP, MP and Maharashtra.

Made of Kevlar and Dyneema — a tough fibre imported from the US and UK, the vests are available for anything between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1.20 lakh. They can ensure protection from handguns and mausers of .30 and .32 bore.

Haryana has a record of election related violence. Rakesh Malik, a Congress leader who joined BJP was shot dead at Tosham in February.

Balwinder Singh Sekhon, managing director of a firm selling bulletproof vests, says many of his clients are leaders whose security cover has been withdrawn or pruned. Young leaders who have risen from regional politics also seek protection former Haryana police chief M S Malik, now an advisor to INLD, says that the police’s unofficial advice to candidates is to use the vests as the police can’t be everywhere all the time. A BJP leader from Haryana campaining in NCR, Rajasthan and Naxal-affected areas says, “Why shouldn’t we use the vests? We too have right to live. Voters feel uncomfortable in the presence of security guards, so we rely on the vests.”