Political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have decided to meet the Election Commission of India (ECI) to demand early assembly polls in the union territory. The decision was taken at a meeting of different political parties at National Conference president and MP Farooq Abdullah’s residence in Jammu on Saturday.
After the meeting, Abdullah in a press conference said a delegation of J&K leaders will go to Delhi and apprise all national parties about the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“After day-long deliberations with all parties, we have also decided to meet the Election Commission of India over the delay in conducting elections,” he said, adding that uncertainty continues in Jammu and Kashmir after the state's status was changed into union territory and the Centre took charge of governance.
“The leaders will apprise the national leadership about the situation in J&K and the uncalled for delay in restoring the democratic process,’’ he said. Abdullah said they don’t understand why there is a delay in holding elections when the government claims the situation has improved and the G20 meeting in May, too, is planned in the UT.
He said the delegation will inform the national parties' leadership about issues like land eviction drive, recruitment scams and levying of taxes “so that they raise it in the upcoming parliament session”.
Abdullah was flanked by former minister and National Panthers Party leader Harshdev Singh, JKPCC chief Viqar Rasool Wani, former minister and Congress vice president Raman Bhalla, DDC member and AAP leader Taranjit Singh Tony, former MLA and CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami, J&K Shiv Sena President Manish Sahwany and PDP leader Amrik Singh Reen.
“It is the assembly that has to take a call on property tax or any other tax,’’ he said. “The government should conduct elections and also respectfully return our statehood.”
On invitation to Ghulam Nabi Azad, Abdullah said that the DPAP president was not invited, but the doors are open for all.
