Accusing the Election Commission of scuttling the election process initiated for Local Bodies polls in J&K at the behest of BJP, a strong contingent of JKNPP led by its State President and former Minister Mr. Harsh Dev Singh held a massive protest outside Nirvachan Bhawan in Jammu today. The protesters raised the slogans of ‘BJP-EC Gathbandhan Hai Hai’, ‘Loktantra Ke Qatil Murdabaad’, ‘T.N Seshan Amar Rahein’ demanding immediate conduct of Municipal elections as per the original schedule. They further sought immediate holding of Assembly polls in J&K which have been denied to erstwhile State for the last five years only to allow BJP to continue its proxy rule in the UT.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that during the recent hearing on Art 370 and allied matters in the Supreme Court, the Constitution Bench of the Apex Court had questioned the govt over the denial of electoral democracy to the people of J&K. And the BJP govt had categorically stated that the process for Municipal elections had already been set in motion and that they were going to be held shortly. “And to ensure the implementation of its assurance to SC, the State election body had issued the process and announced the reservation chart also for all the wards of the UT. But the said process seems to have died a quite death after BJP’s disagreement with the said proposal”, said Harsh. He further maintained that the govt had taken a stand through its Attorney in the Supreme Court that it was all prepared for the Assembly elections also and that the final call would be taken by Election Commission. It was shocking however that despite an unambiguous statement made before the Supreme Court, the elections were again being evaded only to address the political concerns of the ruling party, anguished Harsh added.
Urging upon the EC to proceed with its original schedule for timely Municipal Elections, Mr. Singh said that any postponement of the said elections would not only amount to contempt of Supreme Court but also erode the left over credibility of the top Election Body of the country. He said that EC had already invited objections in respect of reservation roaster and the J&K govt including its helmsmen and LG had also repeatedly announced installation of local self govt on time so as to avail uninterrupted flow of Central funds. “As such any further postponement of the said elections only to please a particular political party would be the biggest insult to democracy, rule of Law and the Constitution”, asserted Harsh.
Prominent among those who were present in the protest included Paramjeet Singh Marshall(Vice President JKNPP), Karan Singh, Gurjeet Singh besides others.
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