Srinagar, May 25: Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister, on Saturday welcomed the statement from the Election Commission of India (ECI) that it will “very soon” initiate the process of holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, Hakeem expressed optimism about the ECI’s announcement, saying the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been without an elected government for the past ten years. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been longing for their own elected government,” he said, adding, “Proxy governments in Jammu and Kashmir have failed on all fronts to redress the grievances of the people.”
The PDF chief termed it heartening that the ECI acknowledged the necessity of an elected government for the region. He said the strong voter turnout in recent parliamentary polls is a testament to the people’s faith in electoral democracy. “The poll panel has been very encouraged and convinced by people’s massive participation in the parliamentary polls, which is a good omen towards holding assembly elections at the earliest,” he added.
Yaseen said the ECI has noted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are turning out in large numbers to vote, which strengthens the roots of democracy in the region.
