Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 6: The former Union Minister, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta has analyzed it as a folly of the two ex-ruling parties of the State especially that of the National Conference (NC) to opt for boycott of the poll process to the basic democracies.
In a statement issued here today, Prof. Gupta said that it sounds strange that these outfits took part in the elections to the Assembly and other higher level hustling but resorted to stay away from the process to empowering the common man.
Commenting upon the emerging scenario in the poll process for local bodies, he said that leaving aside some areas in the troubled Valley of Kashmir the enthusiasm amongst the activists is remarkable which is evident that the record number of candidates have filed their nomination papers. They also include several activists of the boycotting parties trying their luck directly and indirectly. This also indicated the wrong path opted by the leadership of the poll boycotting bodies.
Prof. Gupta observed that one can understood the poll boycott moves of the separatist Hurriyat Conference dominated by the radicals of the Jamat-e-Islami, the seeds of which were sown in the Valley by the Congress in late sixties to counter the influence of the tall Sheikh, who had given the call of social boycott (Tark-e-Mawalat) of the Congressmen by terming them as the insects of dirty lane.
It is a different matter that later on the Sheikh had assumed the power as a Chief Minister with the crutches of the same Congressmen but it is strange that the decedents of the Sheikh have opted for boycott call of the hustling to act as an appendix of the Hurriyat.
Prof. Gupta also castigated the leadership of PDP to go with NC, although the great Mufti was not only against the Sheikhdom but also had floated the body to provide an alternate to the hegemony of the NC as a regional body.
Ridiculing the reasoning for poll boycott on the plea of 35-A, Prof. Gupta described it just an alibi as this provision was least concerned with Panchayats and local bodies. The fact remains that NC, PDP and their allies are infected by the communal virus, and moreso, being out of power, they fear of the exposition of their popularity but for the gun culture and making the people as their hostages by the ultras operating at the dictates of their masters operating from across the borders.
Condemning the political killings, Prof. Gupta sought stern action against the elements indulging in barbarities which he said are a great danger to the civilized world and freedom of the people.
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