Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Oct 21: Former Chief Minister and president of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), Ghulam Nabi Azad today said it is a matter of grave concern that despite normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, the Assembly elections are being delayed.
Addressing a public rally in the Batamaloo area here, Azad stated: “I am not suggesting that the administration is not working for the people, but it is not their primary responsibility. I’m not implying that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) is not working. Their role is different.”
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He said that it is the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), the elected representatives, who are essential for the well-being of the people. “Elections are crucial, and only the legislature can effectively work for the welfare of the public,” he said.
Azad expressed concern over the prolonged delay in conducting assembly elections. “It has been almost nine years since the last election,” he noted.
He termed it unprecedented in the history of J&K, particularly given the relative normalcy witnessed in the Union Territory.
“It is the first time in the 75-year history of J&K that the elections have not been held, even after almost a decade has passed since the last elections. Even during the tumultuous times when J&K faced unrest and leaders were leaving, including Kashmiri Pandits, elections were held shortly after,” he said.
But today, Azad remarked, despite witnessing rare normalcy over the last 35 years, “we have not seen elections being conducted”.
Terming the conduct of political rally at Batamaloo nothing short of a miracle, he said that it is a matter of joy that there is peace in Srinagar, and in Batamaloo.
“The people living here have seen a lot and the sight of frequent frisking was a norm, because those who used to do something (trouble), would flee to reach here, due to which the lives of the people living here was affected; but today, its peaceful; going anywhere in Kashmir comes with no hassles, which is indicative of normalcy,” he said.
Later, while speaking to reporters, Azad said he and his party have always demanded that Assembly elections were necessary as only legislators can serve the people effectively.
“The officers are intelligent and good, but the Secretariat will suffer if they work like MLAs. So the election for MLAs should take place,” he said.
Referring to the situation in the Gaza Strip, the DPAP president said people had expectations from the powerful countries to restore peace.
“Unfortunately, the powerful countries, who can restore peace and calm, themselves get involved then who will restore it?
“The way the situation in Gaza is, the way children are being killed, the way there is no food or water or milk and it has been made the world’s biggest prison, the powerful countries could have intervened, but since they have not, we can only pray,” he said.
He asked the people to pray for the people of the Gaza Strip so that their sufferings end.
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