Srinagar, Dec 18: Former Chief Minister and Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad today demanded holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir in April-May.
In an interview with a local news agency KNS, he also alleged that J&K based political parties are playing fraud on people in the name of return of Article 370 and Article 35(A). Azad said that Jammu and Kashmir is without an elected assembly for more than six years. “ More than the politicians the people are eagerly waiting for elections. Recently elections were held in four states of the country, but authorities again disappointed J&K. This does not mean the incumbent administration is not working. I do not blame them why all things are not being addressed. We know wherever governor’s rule is imposed, many things remain unaddressed in such areas. It is actually a flaw in the governor’s rule. Governor’s rule remains hardly imposed for five or six months, but in J&K it is imposed for last six years. When work of MLAs is being done by officers, things go unconstitutional. Legislators or elected representatives are no where existing. Now even corporators will go into hiding. I do not know for how long? In coming times DDCs and BDCs too will disappear,” he said.
Azad stated that no doubt BJP took a decision to bring democracy and powers at lower level but it was also a strong demand of Congress from the long back. “But in absence of elected representatives the administrative officers are doing legislative work besides their own official work. We should know that legislation cannot be handled by officers. It needs experienced politicians. Legislation part is missing in J&K for past six years. People are badly missing it and are facing lot of inconvenience, “he said.
He alleged that for last 10 or 20 years a political class has emerged which makes money and business out of their political activities. “Another category feels if they will not work for people they will be thrown out in next elections. This means sword of Damocles remains hanging over heads of elected representative. As such they are duty bound to work for the welfare and betterment of people instead of handling issues by any officer who have no relation with political affairs. So I believe assembly election is the solution of all difficulties or diseases J&K is going through at this juncture ,”Azad said.
Asked whether BJP is behind the delay in polls the former Chief Minister said, “ If any political party believes that BJP is deferring or delaying assembly elections in J&K then it is their ill-minded thinking. The more you defer or delay elections, the more it becomes tough for the ruling party. This will impact government badly. It should not be delayed now as Parliament polls are ahead. Elections for Jammu and Kashmir assembly should be held in May – June 2024.”
To a question whether alliance of J&K political parties can get Article 370 back, Azad said, “We all know that few political parties sought votes from people on return of Article 370. This was all to hoodwink gullible masses. Earlier, people cheated in the name of Azadi, Self Rule, and Autonomy. But later on nobody uttered a single word what happened with these slogans. I said this is not in the hands of state assembly. NC has only three MPs and it will never go to four. When these three MPs are unable to change something, how it is possible they will restore the rights taken away on August 5, 2019. Be it abrogation of special status or moving of Amendment and Reorganization Act bills in the Parliament, the regional political parties did not protest against it. BJP took the decision when they have 86 percent support in the Parliament. So there is no question of J&K political parties getting such a huge support. So keeping such circumstance into consideration , I believe only two institutions can restore special status of J&K under Article 370 and 35(A) – Parliament or Supreme Court. But if any political group of J&K claims they will get it back, it is only a gimmick and an attempt to hoodwink people. Let them convince Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this issue before Parliamentary elections, I assure them that I will join their party. But in reality political parties are playing big fraud with people on return of Article 370 and 35(A),”he said
Azad stated that law and order situation remained on track during last four-years but restarted to deteriorate for last one year.” Terror incidents restart emerging which should be a grave concern for government and security agencies, “he said.
The former Chief Minister alleged that the present LG government has failed to provide adequate electricity to people of J&K. “It also failed in generating employment opportunities. Inflation has worsened the lives of poor. Also this administration is recruiting less and expelling more. I did not see any person to get employment. This is negative part of this government. People should not rely on falsehood. They should tread on right path and avoid those who befooled them in last several decades for political interests,” he said.