‘JKUT Admn sabotaged several Cong rallies’
*BJP’s move of inducting 5 MLAs ‘unconstitutional’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 6: Claiming that doors of the Congress Party are open for the like minded parties and the individuals influenced by the Congress ideology, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president, Tariq Hameed Karra today said that BJP’s move to recommend names of five Members for the Legislative Assembly from reserved quota for the induction in the House, is “undemocratic and unconstitutional.”
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“ Our doors are open for the like minded parties and the individuals, influenced by the Congress ideology and those who want to keep BJP out of power,” JKPCC chief told media-persons after a meeting with the contesting Congress candidates here today.
In reply to a query whether Congress is ready to take any winning rebel Congress candidate, others among the independents or those who were earlier with the Congress party, Karra without taking any name of any individual said, “ As I clearly mentioned earlier, our doors are open for like minded parties and ‘any individual’ who shall be open to keep BJP out of power. I will not name anyone though some people have been contesting as rebels against our official candidates. But we are very clear in our stand,” Karra clarified.
On the question of nomination of five MLAs by the Lt Governor on the recommendation of BJP Government and giving them role in govt formation Karra said, “It would amount to ‘rigging the poll results’ and contrary to the basic concept of democracy and defeating the mandate of people.”
“ It is the prerogative of the elected Government and its Council of Ministers. The move of the BJP is totally undemocratic and unconstitutional. They should wait for the outcome of election results on October 8. The Congress shall oppose any such move tooth and nail and shall not allow BJP to succeed in its designs, although it shall be no way near the claim for formation of Government,” Karra asserted.
On the issue of claim of BJP to hold ULB and Panchayat elections shortly, Karra said that it shall be the domain and priority of the new Government and the final decision should be left to the elected Government.
Replying to yet another question, Karra said Congress – NC coalition is intact and it will get a comfortable majority to form the Government in J&K and the final results would be much better than the numbers projected in the Exit Polls.
Karra asserted that numbers of the NC and Congress coalition will be higher than predicted in the Exit Polls and the coalition will gain comfortable majority to form the Government.
He said that the Exit Polls are in tune with our claim but our expectations are much more than projected numbers.
Congress chief said that coalition will have comfortable majority to form the Government and both coalition partners shall have very good numbers, adding the basic purpose of forming coalition would be achieved.
Referring to the attempt of some criminals to attack former DyCM Tara Chand in Khour on the concluding day of third phase of elections, JKPCC chief said it is a matter of serious concern that if a person of the stature of former Speaker of J&K Legislative Assembly, former Dy Chief Minister, former CLP Leader and working president of Congress in J&K is not safe, what can be expected from this administration about the safety and protection of a common citizen. “It is matter of shame. The DGP and State Election authority have miserably failed to act,” JKPCC chief asserted.
Earlier, the meeting which lasted for about three and half hours, had detailed discussions over the conduct of campaign process, the role of administration and prospects of the party and the coalition as well as the strategy ahead.
The participants expressed confidence over the winning prospects of the party and said that Congress-NC will get complete majority in the elections to form the Government.
The party candidates briefed the party president about the role of police and district/tehsil administration in favour of ruling party (BJP) and the failure of administration at most places in taking action against the electoral mal-practices (Distribution of money and liquor among the voters), resorted to by the ruling party candidates. The inaction and non- cooperation by the police and administration was viewed with great concern and they said that administration was expected to remain impartial.
They also discussed the issue of hasty and undemocratic move of BJP with regard to nomination of five MLAs for the reserved seats and resolved to put a check on it.
Some candidates pointed out late release of lists of the candidates and manifesto by the party, effecting the campaign and leaving less time period for the campaign. It was also pointed out that election material was made available very late and not in all the constituencies and moreover, many top party leaders failed to cover most of the constituencies, while others only stayed in the top hotels comfortably and preferred to conduct only press conferences, avoiding hectic public rallies. And some of the candidates were left on the ‘mercy of God’ by the top leadership.
While some candidates said that J&K administration sabotaged rallies of top Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Sachin Pilot and Priyanka Gandhi, by not giving clearance to their helicopters to certain areas on alleged “technical grounds”, the others said that as compared to BJP, their (Cong) campaign was weak and many top leaders/ star campaigners of the party failed to cover many constituencies. And moreover, they were not provided with the ‘items/goods’ etc. which the BJP candidates were freely distributing to lure the voters. They alleged that police and respective district elections authorities avoided to take cognizance of such issues, despite complaint by their candidates.
Prominent among those who attended the meeting include Tara Chand, Raman Bhalla, Neeraj Kundan, Mula Ram, Yogesh Sawhney, Th Balbir Singh-Jasrota, Yashpal Kundal-Ramgarh, Shabir Ahmed Khan, Taranjit Singh Tony, Mumtaz Khan- Reasi, KD Singh -Samba, Iftikhar Ahmed, Bhushan Dogra, Balbir Singh (Nagrota), Rakesh Choudhary-Hiranagar, Ashok Bhagat —Akhnoor, Bhupinder Singh-Katra, Sumit Mangotra-Udhampur and Ved Mahajan vice president and JKPCC Incharge headquarters.
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