ECI must announce early Assembly polls in J&K: Harsh

NPP leader Harsh Dev Singh addressing press conference.
NPP leader Harsh Dev Singh addressing press conference.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 11: Former minister and NPP chairman Harsh Dev Singh said that the recent elections to Urban Local Bodies as well as Panchayats were held in the most peaceful manner in J&K state, now it was bizarre to note the Election Commission announcing to review the security scenario before taking any decision about the conduct of the Assembly elections in the State.
Talking to media-persons here today, Singh said only recently the Chief Electoral Officer J&K on the directions of ECI had convened a meeting in Jammu with all recognized political parties of the state and discussed the preparations for the Lok-Sabha elections. There was however, no mention of Assembly elections in the meeting with hints dropped about the proposed visit of ECI to the state to take stock of the prevailing security scenario.
He said that the State unit of BJP did not favour early Assembly elections in the state and was therefore trying to use its influence with its Central leadership to delay and deny the democratic process in the state.
Reiterating the need for the early elections to J&K Legislative Assembly in the state, Singh said that any delay in this regard would not only amount to subversion of democracy but also violate the orders of the Supreme Court. He was reacting to the rumours doing rounds in the political circles that the Assembly elections might be held after the Parliament polls by extending the President’s Rule. He said the people could not be deprived of their democratic rights in the state only for the political inexpediencies of the ruling party at the Centre by taking the plea of security related issues.
Flaying the BJP led NDA for denying the people of J&K their democratic rights, Singh said that people could not be further deprived of their right to choose their own representatives and to have an elected Govt in the State. If the Municipal and the Panchayat elections could be held in the state, the postponement of Assembly elections on frivolous grounds defied all logic and rationale, Harsh Dev argued.

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