Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 12: Accusing the BJP-led Govt at the Centre of playing spoilsport in timely conduct of Assembly polls in J&K, JKNPP chairman and former Minister Harsh Dev Singh today said that denial of democratic rights to the people of the State could prove counterproductive.
Addressing a press conference here today, Singh regretted that the Assembly elections had been denied in J&K on the flimsy excuses by taking the plea of security constraints. He said that MHA which earlier had assured to provide adequate security for simultaneous polls took a U-turn at the eleventh hour only for political reasons.
Recalling the repeated slogans of PM Narendra Modi to hold simultaneous polls across the nation, Singh regretted that the Centre fell back on its promise and failed to implement even the pious declaration of the PM despite consensus amongst all political parties in the State over the issue.
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Reiterating the need for the early elections to J&K Legislative Assembly in the State, Mr Singh said that delay and deny in this regard not only amounted to subversion of democracy but also was violative of the orders of the Supreme Court. “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,” said Singh.
With the State earlier remaining under Governor’s rule for six months followed by President’s rule, it was be wholly unjustified and unconstitutional to plan further extension of Central rule after May 21, Singh said. While ridiculing the statements of security constraints, he said it was ludicrous to take the plea of shortage of security personnel for holding simultaneous polls for Parliament and Assembly in the State as the number of polling stations to be catered by the security staff for both the elections would remain the same.
“Even the Supreme Court had ruled that Elections to legislative Assemblies in States, where Assemblies are prematurely dissolved, should be held within a period of six months. In the case of J&K, the period of six months expiring on May 21, the Elections to legislative Assembly were required to be held within the time frame prescribed by Apex Court and popular Govt installed before the stipulated deadline”, Singh added.
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