Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 12: Rakesh Koul independent candidate from Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency has strongly condemned the decision of postponing by-elections in his Lok Sabha Constituency by the Election authorities.
“I want to ask the Election Commission of India (ECI) that was not it aware of the situation in Kashmir while announcing the by-elections to two Parliamentary Constituencies of Kashmir” Koul told reporters here today.
He said all Government agencies were fully aware of the situation in Kashmir valley which is under the grip of turmoil for last 28 years . “When elections were continuously held after 1996 in the State even though conditions were worst those days then what forced the EC to postpone the by-elections in Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency just two days before the poll date”, he asked?
Koul said postponing elections on the advice of the ruling alliance is shocking and it shows that they lack public support. Kashmir witnessed worst kind of turmoil for six months last year and the prevailing situation indicates that the things will be worse in future too as the ruling alliance has neither guts to face people nor courage to quell the violence, he added.
He said on the one hand they lack guts in tackling the anti national and anti social elements who have been ruling the roost in Valley and on the other hand they have failed to initiate a concrete policy programme to bring the State out of present mess. There are over five lakh minority Pandits and members of Sikh community leading an exiled life for last 27 years outside Kashmir and it is an irony that they are facing hurdles in casting their vote, he added.
Koul said moreover the Government over the years failed to enumerate their voter lists by updating them with the result majority of members of minority community names are missing in these voter lists and demanded doing away with M Forms hence forth.
“I warn the Government that community will be forced to launch agitation in case it continues to be subjected to discrimination and injustice in future” he added and urged both State and Central Governments to restore the rights to the migrants by rehabilitating them in their homeland to fulfill their geopolitical aspirations.
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