Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 26: A delegation of Pak Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) displaced persons led by Rajiv Chuni today met Om Prakash Rawat, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) at New Delhi.
The delegation demanded that out of 24 frozen seats in J&K State Legislative Assembly meant for PoJK, eight should be restored to PoJK refugees so that they can elect their representatives to raise their voice.
V.K Datta and Pramod Gahi were also present in the delegation.
The delegation said that PoJK refugees are about 13 lakh in number and are settled in different parts of the country but they do not have any political reservation.
The delegation informed the CEC that holding elections is the very basic fulcrum of Indian democracy which is the largest democracy in the world and by not holding the elections for a particular constituency and keeping it vacant, a section is not only being deprived of its rights but at the same time the authorities concerned are failing to get discharged the lawful duties as envisaged under Representative of People Act and other analogous applicable laws.
Delegation members further said that when we talk about not holding the elections, the immediate picture that comes in the mind is that of PoJK.
The delegation also stated that PoJK is the same area from where large number of families was subjected to genocide in the year 1947.
“The plight of these families has been endless and it has in-fact multiplied by not having proper elected members to raise their concerns, plight and issues at a proper stage,” the delegation maintained.
The delegation further said that it is clearly evident that keeping the seats vacant and uncontested is clearly repugnant to the scheme and provision of the Representative of People Act.
The delegation requested ECI to consider the demand on behalf of lakhs of PoJK refugees.
A written document elaborating the demand was also given to the CEC.
After listening to the delegation, the CEC forwarded their demand to the government and Chief Electoral Officer of J&K for comments.
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