J&K politicians resent the proposed move
HANAN FAYAZ
SRINAGAR, Feb 03: In March 2021, the Delimitation Commission for J&K was granted a one-year extension to redraw the Assembly Constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir that remained pivotal to hold the polls after dissolution of J&K Assembly in 2018 by the then Governor Satya Pal Malik.
Later, after the abrogation of Article 370, J&K was given the status of a Union Territory that continues to be governed under Centre’s rule to this day.
But the political stir is once again in the air. Sources have revealed that the Delimitation Commission will likely go for seeking another extension of its term to submit the much-anticipated report that shall eventually herald the electoral process in the region.
The constituent members of the J&K Delimitation Commission, as per reports, are all set to hold a meeting in New Delhi in this month before publicly announcing its official stand on the imminent extension.
In January, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah hinted about the elections going to be held soon after the Delimitation Commission submits its report which was likely to be followed with the restoration of Statehood conditioned to the return of normalcy in J&K.
As the reports of an impending extension over submission of the Delimitation Commission report is making rounds, the regional parties of J&K have express their resentment over such a likely move.
Talking to Kashmir Despatch, CPI (M) Leader & Former Member of J&K Legislative Assembly Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami said that such a move is intended to further disempower the people of Jammu and Kashmir as it will eventually delay the elections.
“CPI (M) has from the first day said that holding of the Delimitation exercise in J&K is unconstitutional as we have challenged the J&K Reorganisation Act in the Hon’ble Supreme Court. It has no relevance. However, those at the helm of affairs are playing a game which is only focused on further disempowering the people. We oppose such an extension, if any,” he said.
He said that such a decision is a matter of utmost concern for every single individual in J&K as their right to vote is being thwarted.
In addition, the Awami National Conference Leader Muzaffar Ahmad Shah also spoke with the KD while saying that the Party opposes such a move which in reality is aimed to stop the return of democracy in the region.
“We have even opposed the very procedures involved in the current Delimitation exercise where at least 2.5 million natives of J&K who are presently in PoK are not being taken into consideration. They are also stakeholders and inhabitants of this land whose rights also need to be safeguarded,” he said.
Speaking on the addition of the number of Assembly seats in J&K, Shah said such a division of seats is disproportionate and points towards malicious designs. “JKANC has out rightly rejected such division of seats that remains in contrast to rationality and transparency,” he added.
Moreover, People’s Conference Senior Vice President Abdul Gani Vakil, said that extending the date for the submission of the Delimitation Commission report will only undermine the rights of the people.
“This is just an extension to further withhold the rights of the people. Our Party is resolute in its position that citizens of J&K must be allowed to exercise their democratic right which the constitution provides them. The elections must be held as soon as possible so that the woes of people are efficiently mitigated by their elected representatives,” he said.
This correspondent contacted representatives of NC and PDP for their remarks on the subject. However, both of them declined to comment.
