Srinagar, Mar 27: Chairman Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Front (J&K PDF) and former Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen has voiced his serious concern over the suspension of essential service contracts by J&K Govt.
In a statement he sought immediate intervention of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer and Election Commission of India (ECI) for restoration of essential service contracts across Jammu and Kashmir.
Hakeem said that though strict implementation of the model code of conduct (MCC) guidelines is a welcome move but putting on hold essential service contracts on key developmental activities under the garb of MCC guidelines is not an election related practice and precedence seen in past. Pointing out that never ever in decades of electoral history has the Govt put on hold essential service contracts during Election periods but this year J&K Govt has put on hold essential service contracts without any such direction from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Calling upon the J&K Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) PK Pole and the Election Commission of India to relax the Model Code of Conduct Guidelines to allow essential service contracts during election periods Hakeem said that farmers are already grappling with the challenges of this year’s long dry spell of the winter season.