Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 13: A protest demonstration was held at Press Club here, today by the displaced Pandits drawn from different areas of Jammu against non inclusion of their names in voter lists of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), the elections of which are to be held in near future.
The protestors raising slogans against the Government termed the deletion of names of Kashmiri migrants who had cast their votes in 2005 Municipal elections in nine wards of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) a part of big conspiracy.
They said that there is no logic in deletion of the names of the migrants who are living in these wards for last over two decades now and have constructed houses there. Exercising right to franchise for the Municipal Corporation is their right to make a claim for the development of their area and denying the same means denial of civic rights, the protestors added.
The protestors asked when the migrants pay development charges, electricity bill, water bill in Jammu, how can they vote for Municipal wards in Srinagar. This decision of the Government is totally illogical, they added.
Addressing the gathering former Corporator and senior BJP leader, Sheela Handoo said that the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis have been given all facilities including I’ cards and other documents but the Kashmiri Pandits who are the bonafides of the State, have been denied the right to vote in local bodies and Municipal elections which is shameful.
She termed the denial of rights to migrants a grave conspiracy which will have serious repercussions and sought the immediate intervention of Governor and Election Commission of India in the matter.
Handoo said different yardsticks are applied for the migrants and the wrong interpretation is given to rules and laws where the cause of migrants is involved. Earlier the migrants from backward areas were denied backward certificates on the plea that they are not living in those areas now and when it comes to casting of vote in Municipal elections it is said that they don’t belong to this place. This shows that there is a conspiracy against the community on every front, she added.
Bharat Bushan Bhat, Makhan Lal Bhat and Vijay Raina also addressed the protestors and warned to intensify agitation in case the names of migrant voters are not included in the voter lists. They said there is no logic in deletion of names of migrants from voter’s lists who are residing in the respective areas for last over two decades now. They said the officers have deliberately deleted the names from the voter lists on the advice of some Kashmir centric politicians who are the stooge of separatists.
Meanwhile, BJP Jammu Rural District president, Omi Khajuria also demanded that the names of migrants putting up in various wards of JMC be immediately included in voter’s lists failing which, his party will come to streets.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
