Political parties unanimously called for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir during their meetings with the Election Commission of India (ECI) officials who arrived in the union territory on a three-day visit on Thursday.
Led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, the ECI team met representatives of various political parties at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Center (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake after landing in Srinagar.
Sunil Sethi, the chief spokesperson of the BJP, along with party colleagues R.S. Pathania and Rafiq Wani, represented the party at the meeting. He said that they urged the ECI to hold elections without delay.
“We told them we want the elections to be held within the time limit fixed by the Supreme Court of India,” he said. “We want adherence to that.”
Sethi said that they demanded the restoration of security for political leaders and workers whose security has been withdrawn.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Monga said they told the ECI that India is the mother of democracy, but Jammu and Kashmir has been denied elections for the last 10 years. “We insisted that elections be held at the earliest,” he said. “We also raised security concerns for political leaders and workers whose security has been withdrawn.”
Monga said that they urged the ECI not to discriminate in providing security to political parties. “We also raised the issue of nomads who have migrated to the hills with their herds,” he added. Monga was accompanied by senior party leaders Ravinder Sharma and Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed.
Sakina Itto of the National Conference described the meeting with the ECI as positive. “The atmosphere was good,” she said. “We brought up certain things, and they listened patiently”. She expressed hope that the ECI would decide to hold the polls without further delay. “We are not seeking any charity but the right of the people that has been snatched from them for the last 10 years so that they can elect their representatives and get their problems addressed,” she said.
Sakina said they also urged the ECI for transparency in elections and a level playing field for all parties.
Asiya Naqash of the PDP said they reminded the ECI that during their last visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP had suggested that the Assembly elections be held alongside the Lok Sabha polls. “We told them your visit is late, given the Supreme Court deadline for holding elections in September,” she said. “We told them we hope you will make an announcement about the Assembly elections.” Naqash also noted that the ECI officials assured them they would meet again.
After meeting the political parties, the ECI held a joint meeting with all deputy commissioners (DCs) and senior superintendents of police (SSPs). Later, the ECI was scheduled to meet with the chief electoral officer, state police nodal officer and coordinator of central paramilitary forces to review preparedness for the polls. The ECI then planned to meet with Chief Secretary Atul Dullo and Director General of Police (DGP) R.R. Swain before leaving for Jammu.
The ECI will brief the media on August 10 in Jammu in which some important announcements on election are expected.
