Shadow Correspondent
Shadow Aug, 18
Shiv Sena Hindustan J&K UT President Pt Rajesh Kesri today convened office bearers meeting in Arnia and all office bearers unanimously in single voice expressed gratitude to Election Commission of India for announcing dates of Assembly elections in J&K as per deadline of Supreme Court. Speaking on the occasion, Kesri observed that
Political leaders in J&K are very much eager about Assembly elections but nobody is bothered about the Urban Local Bodies-ULB & Panchayats whose term ended last year. I don’t think the J&K Assembly, if constituted again, will be able to do justice with the people unless statehood is restored. On the contrary , the institutions which would directly benefit us have been dysfunctional for a long time & our political parties are not much worried about the same.
On various occasions in the past PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have been highlighting the way the Govt of India took initiative to conduct Panchayat and ULB elections in J&K amid violence and militant threats in 2018, said Kesri. Kesri further said that people are unable to understand why the fresh elections have been kept on hold by the Modi Govt which seemed a great proponent of local self governance.
This is really a matter of serious concern and no political party in J&K has seriously highlighted this issue in the last 9 months. The politicians in J&K seem to be more concerned about holding of J&K Assembly elections. I think they must use their energy for ensuring restoration of statehood instead & stress on conducting ULB & Panchayat elections.
I see Panchayats and Municipalities (ULBs) as more powerful institutions in J&K than the Legislative Assembly (if restored) under the existing Union Territory.
The panchayat elections were supposed to be held by the end of last year as the 5 year term ended in December 2023.
Even the term of Urban Local Bodies -ULBs came to an end last year and since then we have neither elected Municipal Corporations, Councils nor Committees in J&K added, Kesri.
Kesri claimed that the absence of these local bodies is not only impacting our governance mechanism but it also undermines democracy. He urged that before holding assembly elections, the J&K’s statehood should be restored.
Prime Minister Modi also gave assurance to people of J&K about this when he was on Kashmir visit during the Yoga Day event in Srinagar on June 20. The ULB & Panchayat elections should be held simultaneously with the Assembly elections.
Prominent among those present on the occasion include Balveer Kumar, Balwant Saini ,Vishwanath, Rajkumar Baba, Sanjeev Sharma, Suresh Kumar, Baryam Singh , Rajesh Kumar, Darshana Devi, Rajni Devi ,Neeru Devi ,Vijay Devi ,Geeta Devi, Pooja Devi ,Purvi besides others.
