Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Oct 08:-
Prof.Bhim Singh, Chief Patron of National Panthers Party urged J&K Governor, Shri Satya Pal Malik to cancel the muncipal/panchayat polls being held presently in the Kashmir Valley in the interest of equity and rule of law for the reason that the polling process has not been duly and reasonably taken up by the appropriate authority. Prof.Bhim Singh said that the process has been well understood and taken up by the voters in the Ladakh region which include two Districts, Leh & Kargil. He said that people of Jammu province spread over 10 districts have also joined the process and elections are being conducted in Jammu province because of the political participation of all except couple of political parties.
Prof.Bhim Singh said that political situation was different in the Kashmir Valley and the government has not reached the people in all districts for several reasons. He regretted that the administration had not cared to organize single meeting with the representatives of the political parties in the Valley in particular. The two ex-ruling political parties boycotted the panchayat polls with different and personal reasons. The administration under the influence of ex-ruling parties did not try to initiate political process in the burning Valley of Kashmir. He said that there were 598 wards in Kashmir Valley which include Srinagar municipal corporation, municipality wards etc.
It is shocking that there is no contesting candidate in 178 wards whereas 236 seats are contested by a single party each. In 184 wards there is no candidate in the field at all. This shows that election shall be held only in 178 wards out of 598 wards in the Valley. This is the mockery that the elections of the representatives in the local body polls shall be held for the civic representatives for the entire Valley. Who is going to believe that?
NPP Supremo said that electoral message from Ladakh and Jammu has also reached the Valley and they are preparing to participate in the panchayat election as these elections are not being fought on party basis.
He said that the Governor has an exclusive power to take decision in this regard and the wise decision shall be cancellation of civic polls in Kashmir Valley and fix any date after holding the panchayat elections in the entire State of J&K. The delay shall heal the political wounds. The people of Kashmir Valley has been facing this kind of turbulences since 1951. The Governor may well constitute a small committee of experienced elders for communication with the angry leadership of Kashmir Valley.
