Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 9: Alleging intimidation by administration to party candidate in Budgam during the DDC chairperson elections yesterday, National Conference general secretary and former Minister, Ali Mohammed Sagar demanded re-polling for the post.
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In a statement issued here today he said, nine DDC members headed by party’s district president, Budgam called on party general secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar here at party Head quarters, Nawa -e- Subha. The delegation of eight DDC members from NC and one DDC member of PAGD apprised the party general secretary about the clumsy and unfair mode of election and lottery system employed for the election of DDC chairman.
The visiting delegation acquainted how the local administration favored a particular DDC member to benefit him in the election by ditching all established norms and rules. The visiting delegation that called on Sagar included party’s district president, Abdul Ahad Dar (DDC-Budgam), Nazir Ahmed Jahra (NC-DDC-Surusyar), Bashir Ahmed Bhat (NC-DDC-Khansaib), Riyaz Ahmed Rather (NC-DDC-Narbal), Sayika Akhtar (NC-DDC-Parneva), Afroza Akhtar (NC-DDC-Nagam), Insha (NC-DDC-Chadoora), Bahir Ahmed Dar (NC- DDC- Pakhar Pura) and Saima Jan (PAGD-DDC-BK-Pura) rued the prejudiced manner in which the entire election process was conducted.
Interacting with the visiting delegation, party general secretary said that such measures undermine the democratic moorings of the country and violate the mandate of people. “Through DDC elections, the people of J&K had conveyed a message. The BJP and its ilk are unfortunately making an error in reading it.
He said BJP seems to have shun all its inhibitions in winning crossovers through hook or crook. “The procedure of the lottery was carried out in an unfair manner. The DC wrote the names of the two contenders on a piece of paper in an arbitrary manner, and asked the clerk sitting next to him to choose between the two slips. The clerk had already seen the concerned DC scribble the names of two contenders on the paper. No sooner than NC DDC members stepped at the venue, the authorities started intimidating the DDC members to ensure benefit to a particular candidate. Having failed to make any mark in the elections, the BJP, and its ilk is now resorting to all illicit means to grab the power by coercing and intimidating DDC members in one way or another”, he added.
“We had participated in the elections to ensure that the sacred space of democracy is used to benefit the people, but contrary to their claims on strengthening grassroots democracy; the Government is derailing democracy and setting wrong precedence by stooping to such stumpy levels of political impropriety and fraudulence. Thus we demand re-election for the post of chairperson,” he said.
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