Pandorian (Bishnah), Apr 2: Lambasting Omar Abdullah led coalition regime for eroding sanctity of democratic institutions in the state, patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on Monday questioned intention of the state government to hold Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections. He regretted that instead of taking some steps to strengthen democracy at grass root level, the State Government was looking for excuses to delay the ULB elections.
 Addressing a meeting of party workers here PDP patron said that elections of Urban Local Bodies including Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations were scheduled to be held in the month of February 2010 but the government has been postponing these elections with one or other excuse. “I fail to understand why government is shying away from its duty to conduct these elections. Formation of Urban Local Bodies is must to empower the people of urban areas”, he remarked and added that in a democratic system it was necessary to make representative character of all democratic institutions to ensure peoples’ participation in these institutions.
 Taking a dig at coalition regime for not fulfilling its promises to conduct local bodies elections, Sayeed pointed out that during the last two years government has repeatedly announced to conduct these elections but these announcements remained only on papers. “Even in the Governor address during the current budget session of the Assembly, the government has promised to conduct local bodies elections,” he recalled but added that no notification has been issued so far which substantiate PDP’s apprehensions that this regime was not interested in conducting local bodies elections.
 “The government had announced to complete the process of local bodies elections by the end of April this year but process in this regard is yet to be started”, he maintained and said that it was a historical fact that National Conference has always undermined democratic institutions in the State.
 Speaking on the occasion former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig said that eroding democratic institutions and controlling such institutions through “illegal means” was history of the NC. “Since 1947, successive NC regimes have been propagating divisive politics to remain in power”, he said and added that wrong policies adopted by the NC were responsible for all ills in the state.
 He regretted that for petty political gains, NC leadership has always tried to create division between people of different regions. “It was only after 2002 when Mufti Muhammad Sayeed became Chief Minister of the State some sincere efforts were made to bridge the gap”, he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 2 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 2 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 3 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST