NEW DELHI, Nov 14:
Prominent Muslim leader Syed Zafar Mehmud and Rajya Sabha Member Mohammad Adeeb have opposed holding of election in Jammu and Kashmir, at a time when villages had been washed away in the unprecedented floods and the massive displacement of people had taken place. They have also appealed to the Supreme Court to direct the State Government to provide sufficient number of shelters for homeless people ahead of the upcoming winter season, just as the apex court had recently done in case of the Governments of five northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
In a statement, they said in a situation when the state had hardly emerged from the devastating floods and people were not in their homes, it was doubtful whether the real voter would reach the polling station.
“If elections in Delhi could be put off for several months without any natural disaster, then why can’t polls be deferred in Kashmir,” they said.
Dr Mehmud said the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu had done a commendable job by sending stern warning to the state governments that they would face dire consequences if they failed to provide shelter homes before the onset of winter.
“We will be very harsh to you if the shelter homes are not ready,” Dr Mehmud quoted the bench, and said a similar directive for the Jammu and Kashmir Government was needed too. The bench was hearing a PIL seeking its direction for governments to build shelter homes, as many homeless people die due to cold in winter.
The Bench said it will send Court Commissioners to find out whether the governments had set up night shelters or not. The apex court had earlier passed a series of orders for providing shelter to homeless people, saying that right to shelter was a fundamental right.
Dr Mehmud said Jammu and Kashmir was the coldest place in north India, followed by Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Moreover, there had been recent floods in the state, which had ravaged almost everything in the state. Moreover, the attention and resources of the state and Central Governments had now been diverted to preparing for the polls that should have been postponed till the winter season was ever. (UNI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel