Allow party leaders to move freely in their constituencies: J&K Cong chief
REACHES OUT TO CENTRE Urges PM and Union home minister to release detained party leaders
JAMMU: Ahead of Panchayat by elections in the Union Territory on March 5, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to allow party leaders to move freely in their constituencies.
While addressing mediapersons here on Monday, Mir said, “People of J&K and this country should that the democracy is being murdered here. The administration has announced the by polls for the vacant panchayat seats.
In November 2018, when the elections were held, the then governor Satya Pal Malik had stated that not a single bird was killed and there was 100% polling but the fact remains that after one and a half year 13,000 seats still remain vacant. They were not filled up as there were no candidates or security scenario was not apt.”
“It is a big figure (13,000 seats) and the government has to hold by polls. However, there is a technical glitch to it. The 2018 polls were held on non-party basis and this one is being held on party basis. Either 2018 polls were wrong or these by elections,” he added.
“Secondly, if by polls are to be held party-wise then where are the parties? Except the BJP no other recognised party leader is in the field and those who want to reach out to the people are not being allowed to do so by the government,” he said.
Mir also accused the BJP of staging theatrics and asked it to stop befooling the people.
“We are ready for the by polls and I am appealing to the Prime
Minister, Union home minister and administration to release the detained Congress leaders and allow them to move in their constituencies,” he said.
He said out of 13,000 vacancies to be filled up in the by polls, 12,600 are in Kashmir and 300 in Jammu region.
The Congress president said no one in the administration from lieutenant governor to the DGP deemed it apt to respond to his letter wherein he had requested permission to see his 90-year-old ailing mother in Kashmir.
“For the past over five months my mother has not seen me. She is not well. I sought permission to meet her but no one in the administration bothered to respond to my letter,” he said.
“On the one hand they are intimidating political workers and on the other they mislead people by saying that these elections will be fought on party basis,” Mir said.
“We sought meeting of a party delegation with the L-G. It has been over two months but he has not given us time despite repeated requests,” he said.
NOTIFICATION ISSUED FOR PHASE 2 OF POLLS
J&K chief electoral officer Shailendra Kumar on Monday issued notification for the conduct of second phase of the Panchayat elections.
The polling for the second phase will be held on March 7 from 9:00am to 1:00pm.
The notification has been issued for Shangus and Hiller blocks in Anantnag district; Aloosa block in Bandipora, Sangrama and Wagoora in Baramulla district; BK Pora, Rathsun and Budgam, Wakura in Ganderbal district, Kulgam block, Nutnussa, Drugmulla, Magam, Ramhal and Tarthpora in Kupwara district, Awantipora and Kakapora (partly) in Pulwama and Chitragam in Shopian district of Kashmir division.
In Jammu division, the elections will be held in Bhagwah, Kastigarh, Thatri, Doda (Ghat), Dali Udanpur, Gundana, Assar, Khellani, Bhaderwah and Bhalla blocks of Doda district, Surankote, Loran, Mandi, Nangali Sahib Sain Baba, Sathra, Lassana and Bufliaz (Partially) in Poonch district, Gundi Dharam, Batote, Rajgarh, Sangaldan, Gandhri and Ramban in Ramban district, Arnas, Thuroo, Jij Bagli, Mahore, Gulabgarh and Chasana in Reasi district, Sewna, Chanunta, Ramnagar, Majalta and Khoon in Udhampur district.
According to the notification, the last date for filing nominations is February 24, the date for scrutiny of nominations is February 25 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is February 27.
OF 13,000 POSTS FOR WHICH POLLS WILL BE HELD, 12,600 ARE IN KASHMIR AND 300 IN JAMMU REGION