SRINAGAR : Appealing political parties to reach out to electorate and make them understand the power of their votes, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday asserted that neither gun, nor strike, voting is the ultimate weapon of people to make necessary changes.
“I would like to appeal to all political parties to join hands with us so that we can together reach out to the people and make them understand that voting is their ultimate weapon. Neither gun and nor strike? Let us ask them to make taking part in electoral process a habit to make changes,” Mr Malik told reporters after taking the ceremonial salute and the traditional ‘Guard of Honour’ in the lawns of Civil Secretariat, which reopened in the summer capital, Srinagar, on Monday.
Meanwhile, refusing to answer a question about the reasons given by the Governor administration to defer the J&K Assembly elections till November, Mr Malik said the report given to the Election Commission (EC) is secret and can’t be shared.
However, he said ultimately it is up to the EC to hold state elections in J&K. “If they (ECI) want to hold election in the state, they can,” he said.
“Let’s first complete Lok Sabha elections properly then we will think about Assembly election? and the dates of holding the state polls can only be given by the EC,” he added.
The Governor said that the militants have resorted to target killing of political workers and leaders after they failed to disrupt Panchayat election in the state. “They (militants) tried to disrupt Panchayat elections in the state but failed. So that’s why they have resorted to target killings,” he added.
Answering a question, the Governor said despite minor incidents of violence, people have come out to exercise their franchise in the Lok Sabha elections.
Talking about action taken by the Governor administration on corruption, he said probe on irregularities in Group Mediclaim Health Insurance Scheme for government employees is going on. “The irregularities in recruitment in J&K bank have been fixed and 580 deserving candidates have received their appointment letters,” he added.
(AGENCIES)
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