Shadow Correspondent
Jammu,Dec, 27
Seeking early elections to J&K legislative Assembly in the state, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and Former Minister today said that any delay in this regard would not only amount to subversion of democracy but also be violative of the judgements of the Supreme Court. He was reacting to a news item published in a section of media today suggesting the possibility of Assembly Elections after the Parliament polls by extending the President’s Rule.
The people could not be deprived of their democratic rights in the state only for the political inexpediencies of the ruling party at the centre, said Singh. He was addressing a press conference in Jammu today.
With the State earlier remaining under Governor Rule for six months followed by President’s Rule, it would be wholly unjustified and unconstitutional to plan further extension of central Rule after May 21 as was being suggested through media reports, said Harsh Dev Singh. It was ridiculous to take the plea of shortage of security personnel for holding simultaneous polls for Parliament and Assembly in the state as the number of polling stations to be catered by security staff for both the elections remain the same, maintained Mr. Singh.
He said that even the Supreme Court had ruled that Elections to legislative Assemblies in states, where Assemblies are prematurely dissolved, should be held within a period of six months.
In the case of J&K, the period of six months expiring on May 21, the Elections to legislative Assembly were required to be held within the time frame prescribed by Apex court and popular govt installed before the stipulated deadline, observed Mr. Singh. He said that the excuse of shortage of security personnel could not be taken for defying the Supreme Court ruling and for depriving the people of their constitutional guarantees.
Flaying the ruling party at the centre for denying the people of J&K their democratic rights, Mr. Singh said that people could not be further deprived of their right to choose their own representatives and to have an elected govt in the state.
If Municipal and Panchayat elections could be held in the state, the postponement of Assembly elections on frivolous grounds defied all logic and rationale, Harsh said. He said the state & democracy could not be held hostage to the whims and political expediencies of the ruling party at the centre.
He appealed the Election Commission of India to take a decision for holding early elections in the light of legal position on the subject without being influenced and without succumbing to the pressures and dictates of the ruling clique.
Mr. Parshotam Parihar State Secretary Panthers Trade Union was also present in the press conference.
