Srinagar, Mar 17: Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, has expressed disappointment over the Election Commission of India’s decision not to hold parliamentary and assembly elections concurrently in Jammu and Kashmir. He described the decision as disheartening, saying the people of J&K have been deprived of their right to choose their own government since 2014.
In a statement issued here, Yaseen criticized the prolonged denial of the right to elect their government, deeming it unjustified and unconstitutional. He questioned the rationale behind holding parliamentary elections in J&K while deeming assembly elections impossible, emphasizing that if the conditions are conducive for one, they should be for the other as well.
Hakeem said that holding both parliamentary and assembly elections concurrently in J&K would align with the Centre’s vision of ‘One nation, One election.’ He expressed sadness over the delay in conducting assembly polls, saying that all political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had advocated for simultaneous elections during the Election Commission’s recent visit.
The former minister criticized the government’s “double standards”, saying, “While it (government) claims improvement in the peace and security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, it delays assembly elections citing security concerns.” He urged the Election Commission to reconsider its decision and announce both parliamentary and assembly elections concurrently in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that it is not too late to do so.
