SRINAGAR: Opposition leaders have urged the government to expedite assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
National Conference senior leader and Parliament of south Kashmir, Hasnain Masoodi of NC stated, “The central government should have decided on the polls before the Supreme Court had to intervene in the matter.”
TMC’s Saugata Roy echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Polls in the union territory should be held before other big ticket decisions are taken.”
Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra pointed out, “Local bodies’ elections were held in the erstwhile state.” Supriya Sule of NCP demanded, “A timeline and not a vague answer from the government on holding assembly polls and giving statehood to the people of J-K.”
BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma stressed, “The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill would ensure justice to the other backward classes (OBCs) in the UT.”
Chinta Anuradha of YSRCP remarked, “This is a progressive legislation and would help streamline the election process in the local bodies, including panchayats.”
Moving the bill for discussion, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said, “After the abrogation of Article 370, the OBCs in J-K, who were being ignored earlier, have been put on the path of development.”
