Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 17: The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), a prominent non-political collective of civil society members in Jammu and Kashmir, has called for conduct of free and fair Assembly elections in the Union Territory.
The announcement by Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct Assembly elections in J&K has come nearly a decade after the last Assembly elections, and it is expected to mark the end of over six years of continuous central rule in the region. The GCC, which comprises retired civil servants, academics, and professionals from various fields, sees this development as a crucial step toward restoring democratic processes and Governance in J&K.
In a statement released today, the GCC emphasized the importance of conducting free, fair and transparent elections, urging the Union Territory’s administration to rise to the occasion. The group expressed hope that the administration, under the close supervision of the ECI, will ensure that the elections are held in a manner that genuinely reflects the will of the people.
According to the GCC, the people of J&K have endured significant hardships due to the prolonged absence of an elected Government since 2018. The lack of representation, they argue, has left a void in governance, leading to challenges in addressing the unique needs and aspirations of the region’s diverse population.
Beyond the immediate concern of elections, the GCC has also called for the early restoration of full Statehood for J&K. The group highlighted that the current status of J&K as a Union Territory places inherent limitations on the elected Government’s ability to effectively discharge its responsibilities. This situation, they assert, is unlike that of other Indian states, where Governments possess full authority to address local issues.
The GCC’s statement also referenced previous commitments made by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister regarding the restoration of Statehood to J&K. The group urged that these promises be fulfilled without further delay, stressing that the return to full Statehood is essential for ensuring that the elected Government can function with complete autonomy and accountability.
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