Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee senior vice president and chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma has stated that the Gujjar-Bakkerwal and other Scheduled Tribe communities have embarked on their seasonal migration to upper reaches alongwith their livestock and would be deprived of their valuable voting right.
He said both the Parliamentary Constituencies of Jammu region have a sizeable population of Gujjar-Bakkerwal and other Scheduled Tribe communities, most of whom are nomads. A large number of members of these communities from two constituencies have already left for higher reaches. In the absence of proper arrangements, they are likely to miss their democratic right to caste their vote, Sharma said.
Expressing concern over the matter, Sharma asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to devise a mechanism to ensure whole-hearted participation of these communities in the voting process.
He also took exception to the cumbersome procedures to seek permissions for vehicles, public meetings, ferring publicity material etc. The DEOs are not entertaining offline requests in remote areas and separate permissions for each district from DEOs is required 48 hours before.
In J&K, most Lok Sabha constituencies have more than three four districts. ECI should direct for simplifying and implementable guidelines for all, as it is festival of democracy, JKPCC leader said.
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