India a democracy, justice will prevail: Barkati’s daughter

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Aug 30: The daughter of jailed Sarjan Ahmad Wagay alias Sarjan Barkati today said that India is a democracy, expressing confidence that justice will prevail and that her father’s nomination papers for the Assembly elections will be accepted.
Sugra Barkati, along with several supporters, was protesting outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Shopian, urging the authorities to accept her father’s nomination papers, which she claimed were complete in every respect.
Resolute in her fight for justice, Seerat stated; “We have come out, and we will ensure that justice is delivered. India is a democratic country and I will see if justice is done for us. Justice is there and we are confident that justice will be served.”
She added, “I am hopeful for justice. We persuaded our father to run for elections, because we have gone through a lot; but now his form has been rejected; we are not only for the release of our parents but also of all those who are in jail.”
Seerat noted that when the nomination papers were submitted, they were informed that the documents were complete except for issues with the candidate’s signature.
“The next day, when we returned, we were not allowed in while the concerned authorities resorted to delaying tactics until 4:30 p.m. We were then told that the form had been rejected.”
It is to be noted here that papers of Barkati who was set to contest Assembly polls from Zainapora constituency of district Shopian, were rejected on technical grounds with officials noting that the papers “lacked an oath certificate, which is a mandatory requirement.”
The papers were submitted on August 27 for the Phase-I of Assembly polls set to be held on September 18.