Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has said that forcing elections to BDCs on party basis by keeping the opposition parties away from the electorate exercise is betrayal of electorates and mockery of democracy.
In a statement here today PCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said that holding of elections to BDCs at this juncture forcing the major opposition parties to stay away from the election, is betrayal of electorates and mockery of democracy. This is first such election in history of state and the country, when except ruling party, no opposition parties in a position to take part in election but still the Government went ahead with this election process that too, on party basis, least caring for the basic democratic and the rich traditions and fundamental essence for elections in this country.
PCC leader said that when the entire opposition leaders in the State were detained for more than two months long and still most of opposition leaders of Kashmir Valley are not permitted to move out, how such an election on party basis could have been announced and held without any prior consultation with political parties and getting their leadership set free to create ground for participation in the election process.
He said the Government has arbitrarily forced these elections on the people against all basic norms of democracy by creating such an atmosphere and conditions for mainstream opposition parties who stay away from election process. He said that such a kind of farce exercise has not added value to the democratic system in this country besides has deprived the PRIs of the full benefits of 73rd Amendments when the entire constitution of India stands applied to the state, there is no justification to hold elections after full-fledged implementation of 73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India in the State.
Sharma said that BJP wanted to manage elections in absence of participation of opposition parties but still there is tough fight from independent candidates at various places, which is evident from the campaign by entire top brass of BJP in various parts of Jammu province with full patronage of Administration.
Meanwhile, PCC has expressed great shock over the martyrdom of an Army JCO, who has been killed in a gun battle with militants in Nowshera sector of Rajouri.
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