Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 12: With NC and PDP having refused to participate in the elections to local bodies in the state on the pretext of controversy over Art 35-A, former minister and NPP chairman Harsh Dev Singh today questioned the rationale of the said parties behind their continuance in Parliament and State Legislature.
Addressing public meeting at Ploura in Ward 60 of JMC, Singh said that while these parties had members in both the Parliament and State Assembly who were performing their routine functions in such capacities, the said parties had displayed their contempt for the constitution of local bodies by refusing to participate in the same. The said members of both the parties were drawing all emoluments, perks, allowances, TA/DA besides holding public meetings and participating in official functions, while opposing the process of democratic decentralization, rued Harsh.
Not only that the NC had staked its claim over the LAHDC, Kargil by reportedly manipulating the support of some independent members, said Harsh Dev. Should they not explain their position and conflicting stands over the issue to the people of the state who felt betrayed by their double standards when it came to empowerment of masses at grass root level.
Urging upon the Govt not to bow to the blackmail and pressure tactics of the separatists and opportunist political parties, Mr Singh called for holding of elections as per schedule and on party lines for Urban Local Bodies as announced earlier. He said that rumours were agog about certain political parties including BJP insisting upon holding urban local bodies polls on non party basis in view of their political space having shrunk in their respective bastions. It was expected that the Governor’s administration and the Election Deptt would not succumb to the dictates of vested political interests and would go ahead with the decisions taken earlier after due deliberations with various stake holders, said Harsh.
Singh said that rather than posing hindrances in the conduct of such elections NC-PDP should first resign from Parliament and State Legislature and give up all facilities being enjoyed by them as MPs, MLAs and MLCs.
Balwant Singh Mankotia while appealing the gathering to support their own local party said that the people across the country were once again looking towards regional parties in view of their commitment to local issues. He said that NPP having proved its mettle in the Assembly as well as outside and having proved its secular credentials deserved full support of the people of Jammu region.
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