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Delaying assembly elections in JK ‘detrimental to federalism’, mainstream parties say

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Srinagar: Mainstream political parties in the state have said that delaying assembly elections for the state legislature was not a good indication for democracy of the country.
The parties were reacting to the statement of Home Minister Amit Shah in the parliament that assembly elections will be held by the end of this year.
National Conference General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar said the central government had shown “double standards on the democracy and elections of Jammu and Kashmir”.
“Depriving people of their elected representatives and not holding elections on time is undemocratic exercise. From a delay of few months, the central government has stretched the exercise too far,” he said.
He added that delaying elections to the end of the year was “not good for the spirit of the democratic process”.
Addressing a series of worker’s conventions at Rafiabad and Baramulla on Saturday, Sagar said the central government led by BJP was “persistent on ruling the state from the center”.
He said the move will prove “detrimental to the structure of federalism in the country”.
“On one hand the Home Minister minces no word to accentuate the peaceful conduct of ULB, Panchayat and Parliament elections, simultaneously he is denying a representative government to the state,” he said.
“Yesterday, we heard the home minister necessitating on the need of strengthening grass root level democracy in the state. How can the dream possibly be achieved by delaying the assembly elections?” he asked.
He said the decision was “fraught with undue politicking”.
“Any further delay in having an elected representative government in the state will further increase the gap between the government and the people. The youth of the state in particular stands disenfranchised due to the imprudent policies of former BJP-PDP government,” Sagar added.
He said the incumbent governor administration was proving “equally inefficient”.
“The absence of an elected government in the state has put the identity and integrity of the state on peril. The people of the state are yearning for a stable government which could protect the identity and territorial integrity of the state. Above and beyond the development has been the prime causality as a consequence of election delay in the state,” he said.
PDP Vice President Abdul Rehman Veeri said that people need elected government which responds to their grievances.
“It is good that elections will be held in the state, but delaying them doesn’t augur well for the people and democracy,” Veeri said.
Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Ghulam Ahmad Mir said that BJP government was “neglecting people in not giving them their elected representatives”.
“Home Minister’s reasons of not delaying elections in the state were illogical. However, holding elections within six months of the president’s rule in the state is a good indication, delaying them further will not be good for the people of the state,” he said. KNS


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