Srinagar, Dec 13 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday openly invited Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and Congress for an open debate on the contentious ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, asserting that the move is constitutionally valid and should not face opposition.
BJP’s chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi, in a conversation with local news agency, said that the proposal has strong constitutional backing and no substantial reason to reject it.
“There is no valid argument against ‘One Nation, One Election.’ This proposal is firmly rooted in the Constitution,” Sethi said, responding to opposition from the NC and Congress. “We are ready to engage in a debate with anyone on this issue,” he added.
On the issue of the Darbar Move, Sethi expressed strong criticism of the continued practice of shifting the administrative capital between Jammu and Srinagar.
He highlighted the high costs involved in the manual transportation of files, a process that, according to him, adds unnecessary financial strain on the Union Territory.
“In the age of technology, it’s wasteful and impractical to continue moving files in trucks, spending crores of rupees, especially when the region is facing economic challenges. Let’s embrace digital solutions and limit the Darbar Move to the movement of administrative secretaries only,” Sethi suggested, pointing out that modern technology can facilitate efficient administration without the logistical burden of shifting entire government offices.
Earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for a transparent and detailed debate in Parliament on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal. Drawing a comparison to the controversial abrogation of Article 370, he emphasized the need for a comprehensive national conversation before implementing such significant changes.
National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament (MP) Mian Altaf also opposed the ‘One Nation, One Election’ policy, criticizing the Union Cabinet’s decision to approve it in what he termed a “hurried manner.”
Similarly, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and MLA from Dooru, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of implementing the initiative across the country. (KINS)
