‘Time not ripe for ULB, Panchayat polls’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 12: PDP senior leader and former Finance Minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today ridiculed the remarks made by BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and spokesman Brig Anil Gupta in which the BJP leaders had asked PDP to reconsider its decision of boycotting upcoming Municipal and Panchayat polls.
In a statement issued here, Bukhari observed that Madhav is well aware of his own party leadership which displayed an utter disregard to elected representatives and dishonored democratic institution like Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Now boasting about decentralization of powers to grassroots level through an electoral exercise that can’t be held in an atmosphere of political uncertainty in Kashmir is preposterous and unreasonable proposition,” the PDP leader remarked.
He said that the objectives of devolution of powers can’t be achieved at a time when people of the State are fraught with efforts being made to muzzle their special political identity by fiddling with Article 35-A and other rights guaranteed under the constitution.
“After subverting the democratic process by showing scant regard for an elected Government, BJP is now trying to scratch the wounded psyche of people by pushing them for untimely Municipal and Panchayat elections,” Bukhari observed.
He said the situation in Kashmir could have been entirely different, if the Central Government would have implemented its agenda of alliance and fulfilled its publicly announced promises like immediate introduction of confidence building measures and initiating a comprehensive dialogue with all stakeholders in the Valley.
“Unfortunately, the BJP didn’t weigh the risks of dishonouring democracy in J&K and never tried to draw lessons from a history that has witnessed the subversion of democratic institutions and popular elected representatives at a grave cost to the State and the interests of its people,” he added.
On Brig Anil’s remarks that PDP is in competition with NC and believes in dynasty politics, Bukhari said PDP through its pro people polices has emerged as a strong regional force representing true aspirations of the all regions and sub-regions of the state.
“PDP neither believes in dynasty politics nor is it in competition with any regional or national party. This party has earned credibility of the people through its convictions and commitments,” he observed.
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