Jammu, May 24: “Manipulating delay in holding the assembly polls in J&K is another example of the BJP government killing democracy in this part of the country,” said Additional General Secretary of Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Dr Mustafa Kamaal on Wednesday.
Kamaal, as per a party statement issued here, was addressing a working committee meeting of Udhampur Reasi Zone here at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan.
Dr Kamaal on the occasion said, “The BJP government has demeaned Indian democracy, which at one point of time was considered as the biggest among all, by showing reluctance on holding assembly elections in J&K fearing its devastation due to anti-people policies which it has been implementing on the name of reforms and development.”
“Elections are due for long but knowing well about their probable worst-ever political debacle the BJP government is running from polls. This is nothing but the killing of democracy by a party which boasted at all forums about being champion of electoral reforms and guardian of democracy”, he said, adding, that “BJP is maligning the country by manipulating poll delay and denying the democratic right of voting to the people of J&K by deferring polls on one pretext or the other.”
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of NC Zonal President and former Minister Abdul Ghani Malik.
Mustafa Kamaal said the BJP’s model of democracy is “authoritarian” because it wanted to impose governance without holding elections thus marring the very spirit of democracy, which the Constitution of the country has guaranteed to the citizens. “The entire world is gazing at J&K and how the BJP government is denying democratic rights to people. He said that it is in the interest of one and all in the country and also BJP as a party to hold elections sooner than later as by saying no to polls India’s image of being a significant democracy is being tarnished at all levels,” he said.
Rattan Lal Gupta, NC Provincial President Jammu, who was the guest of honour on the occasion, said, “The government, on one hand, is discussing the promotion of tourism in J&K but on the other, the tourist spots in Jammu region have been craving its attention because not one, not two but all these destinations are in abysmal condition with travelers going back disappointed due to lack of facilities.”
Abdul Ghani Malik, the former minister, said the ULB and Panchayat polls are in offing in J&K and asked party cadres to gear up for the polls.
