Resentment against BJP reason behind delayed polls in J&K: Tanvir

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 1: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq today rued the apathy of the center in salvaging democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking with the media at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Tanvir said that long standing undemocratic rule has increased the hardships of people. “Recently even the CEC had also acknowledged the deepening void in J&K due to the lingering undemocratic rule. If he is cognizant of this fact then why aren’t elections being held. They have been citing one excuse after another, first it was security, then it was weather and then the run up preparations for the election process. Now, when the weather is clear, and the situation is admittedly normal; not holding the polls despite the ECI nod indicates the BJP is afraid of the polls,” he said.
“We had an impression that the Election Commission doesn’t want to have polls in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added saying, “When our representatives asked the Chief Election Commissioner why the polls are not being held in J&K, the delegation members were told that the Commission has completed the delimitation exercise, voter list is also prepared, polling booths are also identified and election staff is prepared and ECI is waiting for two things, weather and security clearance. It had made it clear to the delegation members that they were only waiting for weather and security. What holds them now from going with the exercise? Security, we are being told, has improved significantly, and the weather is clear.”
Sadiq contended that further delay in the restoration of an elected legislator in J&K will make the democratic recovery of the beleaguered region unattainable. “The new model in place in Jammu and Kashmir is bereft of democratic moorings with no say of locals including Dogras, Kashmiris, Paharis, Gujjars in the decision making process. Consequences of denying democratic rights to people would not augur well for the prized freedom, stability, and strength of our country. It will put the entire region on the path of terminal alienation,” he added.

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