Waseem Ahmad
SRINAGAR, Mar 22: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said that clubbing of the polling stations for the upcoming Parliament elections in Jammu and Kashmir will affect the participation of people in the elections.
Addressing a press conference here, PDP Vice President Abdul Rehman Veeri said that Government is mulling to club at least 5-10 polling stations at one place due to which people will face hardships in casting their votes as they would be forced to travel three -four kilometers. Click here to watch video
“The people of one village will have to travel to other village for casting their votes. As per the code of conduct by Election Commission, the voters cannot take their personal vehicles near to polling station and most of the people don’t have their own transport. So, we think this will led to less participation of people or negligible in the elections,” Veeri said.
He demanded that all those polling stations that are being clubbed should be set up at previous locations and also those polling stations that are far from the villagers should be set up nearer to them so that they will face no hardships to cast their votes.
The PDP vice president also said that the Government had withdrawn the security of political leaders and workers and in view of elections they have to speed up their activities but how can they go ahead with their political activities when they will remain under constant threat keeping in view the security scenario of Kashmir.
“When elections are nearer, it is obvious that political workers have to speed up their activities and move to far flung and remote areas for the campaigning but unfortunately the withdrawal of security to them will affect the political atmosphere of the state and its conclusion will be the less participation of people in the elections,” Veeri said.
He demanded that all those persons whose security has been withdrawn should be given protection once again so that they can start their political activities ahead of the elections in a peaceful manner.
Speaking on the occasion, senior leader of the party, Ghulam Nabi Lone said that in these elections, convenience of polling staff and administration has been taken into consideration while the voters have been neglected.
He also alleged that some Government employees are openly involved in the campaigning of a particular political party and despite written to the Election Commission and other concerned authorities with the proper proofs, no action has been taken so far.
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