Kashmir has voted for dynasty-free democracy: Dr Jitendra

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Nov 8: Maintaining that the people’s mandate in recent Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections in Kashmir was vote or dynastic free democracy, Union Minister of State in PMO with Independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh said that people in Kashmir have rejected both separatists and semi-separatist parties.
In an informal chat with media persons here yesterday, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the results of recent ULB polls have shown that the people of State are for strengthening of basic institutes of democracy by rejecting both separatists and dynastic parties who had given a poll boycott call to attain their vested political interests.
He said that holding of ULB and Panchayat elections will strengthen basic institutes of democracy by empowering them in real sense. This can be an autonomy in real sense to these institutions which can take care of local problems of the people and also take up the developmental works in hand in the areas where the MLAs and MPs can’t reach, he added.
In comparison to that the dynastic parties leaders are demanding autonomy for their families and they don’t support for the strengthening of basic institutions of democracy, Dr Jitendra Singh said, adding they are not bothered for the strengthening of basic institutions of the democracy in the State and want that entire power should vest in their families only.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that there were no takers for these dynastic parties and people of the State have rejected them by voting for the alternative political setup emerging in Valley which they believe can come up to their expectations.
The Union Minister said that autonomy should percolate from ground and ULB elections are basis for the same. “However, the dynastic parties want autonomy for their families”, he added.
He said these elections are also a testimony that the space of mainstream parties has widened in the State and BJP has emerged a pan Indian party which has for the first time won the ULB elections in Kashmir valley and Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been elected with BJP’s support.
In comparison to that the base of the dynastic parties has eroded considerably as people of Valley totally ignored them. As people are fed up with dynastic parties a new political combination is emerging in Kashmir to take the Valley on the path of development and progress.
In response to a question regarding Governor’s statement of holding talks, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the political parties are talking about holding of talks but they themselves don’t come forward for talks. He, however, made it clear that gun and talks can’t go together and there will be no shift in Government policy in this regard.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that Kashmiri youth are for peace and development as they have seen through the game plan of separatists as well as semi separatists who want a neighbor’s son should pick up gun while their own children should read in modern and reputed education institutions outside Valley.
They have been misleading the people over the years for their vested interests but the youth of Kashmir have now rejected them and they want to be the part of Narendra Modi’s developmental plan and don’t want to lag behind from other states of country.
Taking a dig at separatists, he said “I have been repeatedly saying that they are separatists not by conviction but convenience”.

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