Jammu, Mar 11: The leaders of various parties of J&K on Saturday decided to meet the Election Commission in Delhi for an early assembly election in Jammu & Kashmir and restoration of its statehood.
The decision was unanimously decided during an all party meeting called by former Chief Minister of J&K Dr Farooq Abdullah at his residence at Bhatindi, Jammu.
The three-hour-long meeting also ended with a decision to meet national leaders from the Opposition camp in Delhi to seek their assistance in restoring democracy in the Union Territory.
“We will brief them and seek their help in restoration of full statehood and democratically elected government. The Prime Minister and Union Home Minister say there is peace, if this is true, then why do they not hold the assembly election?” Abdullah told reporters after the meeting.
“The last assembly elections in J&K took place in 2014 and there is a Supreme Court ruling that the polls must be held within six months of the dismissal of an elected government. People want a popular government back in place,” he said.
The all party meeting was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President, Vikar Rasool, JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla, PDP leader Amrik Singh Reen, CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami, National Panthers Party (NPP) leader Harsh Dev Singh, Aam Aadmi Party leader T S Tony besides leaders of some other parties.
“In the all party meeting, the leaders of various political parties discussed various issues confronting J&K like anti-encroachment drive, property tax, the current law and order situation in J&K besides some other burning issues confronting J&K,” MY Tarigami told Rising Kashmir, adding, “a resolution was passed in the meeting demanding restoration of Statehood to J&K besides holding assembly elections here”.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Farooq also reiterated that assembly elections should be held in J&K as early as possible as there has already been a lot of delay.
“Why so much delay in holding assembly elections here in J&K,” Dr Farooq told reporters adding, “the Statehood to J&k should be given as early as possible”.
Meanwhile, in the meeting it was also decided by leaders of various parties to approach the opposition parties at the national level regarding issues concerning J&K.
“A resolution was passed in the meeting as per which the opposition parties of J&K will soon meet the opposition parties at the national level, “Tarigami said adding, “the J&K political parties and the opposition parties at the national level will jointly meet the ECI to demand holding of assembly elections here besides urging the GoI to give Statehood to J&K”.
Referring to the anti-encroachment drive and imposition of property tax, Dr Abdullah said an extraordinary situation prevails in J&K where orders are passed in night by the Lt Governor Administration and implemented the next day.
“We want a popular government and statehood. Not a truncated statehood but a powerful statehood like every other state has a right to. This is for the first time in the history of the nation that a proud state has been reduced to a UT, a tragedy for the nation,” Abdullah said.
He said J&K is an integral part of the nation and not separate.
Asked whether they will meet the Prime minister and home minister during their visit to the national capital, he said it will be decided later.
“After returning from Delhi, we will meet here (in Jammu) again and a similar exercise will be held in Kashmir to chalk out the future course of action,” he said.
Abdullah condemned the lathicharge on the job aspirants protesting against the hiring of a previously blacklisted company by the administration to conduct computer-based written tests.
He said LG administration is not a people’s government and neither the LG nor his officers has any stake to face the public in elections.
The leader also accused the BJP of fanning communal fire and dividing people on religious lines.
“Mahatma Gandhi saw a ray of hope in J&K at the time of partition when the entire country was engulfed in communal violence. We are proud that the communal brotherhood still prevails in J&K, which is secular, and will remain so,” he said.
Asked whether Democratic Azad Party chairman and former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was also invited to the meeting, he said “doors are open for everyone.” (Inputs from PTI)
