Do delimitation in free, fair manner, urges NC and Cong to visiting panel
The National Conference and the Congress on Tuesday met the visiting Delimitation Commission and urged it to carry out the exercise of redrawing the electoral constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir in a free, fair and transparent manner so that the unity and integrity of the Union Territory is safeguarded.
The two parties submitted separate memoranda to the Commission headed by Justice (retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai outlining their concerns and demands related to the exercise, and saying it be carried out only after J-K is granted statehood again.
The CPM also submitted a memorandum which highlighted the constitutional aspects of delimitation and the legal challenge to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019.
The National Conference said the delimitation exercise should not have been conducted till the Supreme Court decided on the pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019 and other related orders.
It said the hearing in the cases got delayed due to the pandemic and all the petitions are expected to be taken up once the physical hearing commences.The party said the delimitation exercise would be a credible effort in strengthening democracy only after full statehood is restored.
Congress delegation in its memorandum said the delimitation process will be rendered “nugatory” if held before the restoration of statehood to J-K. The party said it told the Commission that the initiation of political and democratic dialogue in J-K must begin with restoration of civil liberties of political parties and people. The CPM said under the present circumstances, the 2011 census should be taken as guiding frame for delimitation exercise.
Earlier, barring the PDP, all major political parties in Kashmir decided to meet the Delimitation Commission. The PDP led by Mehbooba Mufti decided to stay away from delimitation process, saying the body lacks “constitutional and legal mandate” and is part of overall process of political disempowerment of people of Jammu and Kashmir.