Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Monday met Chief Election Commissioner at Srinagar and urged the ECI team to announce assembly elections along with forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state.
A three-member delegation led by party general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, state secretary Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan and provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani reiterated party’s resolve that there is no substitute to a democratically elected government in the state.
“J&K National Conference is of the view that assembly elections in the state should be held simultaneously with Lok Sabha elections,” the delegation, according to a party spokesman, said.
The NC delegation while underscoring the importance of having a democratically elected government in the state said that people are yearning for a popular government that could further the cause of development in the state and safeguard their rights.
“J&K governor has himself maintained that the recently conducted panchayat elections were peaceful and shorn of any untoward incident. The expanse of panchayat elections was much larger than the parliament and legislative assembly elections. There is nothing which suggests irrationally of not having the two elections together.” The delegation further said that security should not be a reason to put off legislative elections in view of the governor’s on record affirmation of having conducted ULB and Panchayat elections together.
“Its therefore in that context that we expect governor SP Malik and his team to work towards making the situation in the state conducive for assembly, LS elections and prepare an atmosphere where people in the state will feel free while participating in the democratic process,” the delegation said.
The delegation while underscoring the need of having elections to the state legislature with Parliamentary elections said, “It will hold good for the state if the elections are conducted together before the onset of tourist season. The whole affair of elections if accomplished before summer sets in will have a positive impact on the economic activity of the state.”
The visiting delegation reiterating the trust that the people of state repose in the election commission of India and the Apex court said, “People of the state have pinned their hopes on ECI hoping that the institution will come up with pragmatic recommendations that hold good for democracy to thrive in a sensitive state like J&K.”
The visiting delegation maintained that the institution of the governor cannot swap the significance of an elected government. “Our state is beset with problems which can only be handled by a popular government. The governor’s rule is an interim arrangement for ensuring sound administration until an elected government is in place,” the delegation said.
The delegation further maintained that any further delay in giving people of the state a democratically elected government will inadvertently disenchant people towards democracy. “Governor’s short-run administrative announcements and decisions have added to confusion and mistrust among the people here. The recent amendment to 1954 constitutional order by the Union Cabinet is a case in point. In a working democracy, the situation is different where any move/change is arduously discussed in both houses.”
The delegation made an earnest appeal to the ECI team to have both Parliament and Legislative assembly elections together in the state for the assembly reflects the true aspirations of the people being representative in character.
