Sooner Or Later, Assembly Elections Will Be Held: Farooq

SRINAGAR — National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that assembly elections will be held, sooner or later, in the state.  

Talking to reporters after paying tributes to 13 July 1931, Farooq also governor Satya pal Malik was expected to be present at Martyrs Graveyard here “being BJP’s governor.”

“Why not? Sooner or later, elections will be held,” Farooq, who is also National Conference’s parliamentarian from Srinagar seat, told reporters on the sidelines of the function.

Responding to question whether skipping of official function by Governor Satya Pal Malik tantamount to disrespect to the 22 martyrs of 13 July 1931, Farooq said: “He is BJP’s governor and how can he come here.  

Earlier addressing party functionaries he said the incident of 1931 was the culmination of the growing unrest in the people against the oppressor and the tyrant. “The martyrs gave their life for securing dignity and self-respect of their countrymen. Never had Kashmir witnessed a forceful upsurge until 1931, a profound departure from the traditional stoism,” he said, adding, “It taught all shades of opinion not to imagine them separate of an all embracing Muslim identity which subsequently became vibrant with the toil of Sher-e-Kashmir. Not just Muslims, Sheikh Sahib told masses that the ills of the masses can be remedied by carrying Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs together.”

Farooq also decried advertisement ban on various local dailies and said, “Media plays a crucial role of gate keeping and exposing the ills of society in a democratic set up. It also exposes the loopholes in a democratic system which ultimately helps the government to undo wrongdoings, thereby making the administration more responsive and efficient.”

 However, he said, the situation is much different in this part of the world. “Today we are being denied a vibrant press. The sole reason behind the curbs is to pressurize the media fraternity from not reporting the issues of greater public importance. Today an unconventional version of democracy is being pushed on us. This all is done to suit the purpose of forces as are inimical to the special status of the state.”

 The reason behind such “unscrupulous and undemocratic gags” on local dailies is to impede their impartial working, he said. “Putting curbs on the press is analogous to throttling democracy. It must end without any delay. The ban of Government adds to various local dailies should be revoked.”

He said the forces are as inimical to special constitutional position will try their level best to widen the communal tension in the state. “Such forces want to rob our state of its flag, of its own constitution and of its unique constitutional identity and they will employ all sorts of dishonest routes to achieve their end. They will try to buy our conviction with money and muscle power,” he said, adding, “They will use their servile henchmen in the state to divide the voice of Kashmiri Muslims. They will try to fan sectarian strife; however it is the unity that affords us a universal remedy against the intrigues of our enemy. At the same time the gravity of the situation demands us to remain cautious of the veiled enemies that are propping up in the every street of Kashmir playing catchy slogans.” 

On Wednesday last, the Government of India evaded direct response to delay in holding assembly elections in state.

Responding to a question by senior congress leader and former Chief Minister of the state, Ghulam Nabi Azad, minister of state in the ministry of Home Affairs, G. Kishan Reddy said Election Commission of India has not yet fixed the dates.

He responded in affirmative to the question whether it was a fact that on 3rd January this year, the then Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) had stated in the Rajya Sabha that the Central Government was ready to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly along with Lok Sabha Elections, if Election Commission desires so

“The superintendence, direction and control of conducting elections to Parliament and State Legislatures are vested with the Election Commission of India,” Reddy said responding to the question on the reasons for not holding the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections along with Lok Sabha elections and when does Government plan to hold polls.

The Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir was imposed initially on June 20, 2018, and the State Assembly was kept in suspended animation after the state plunged into a political crisis when the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government was reduced to minority following withdrawal of support by the 25-member BJP in the state.

Governor on November 21, 2018, dissolved the 87-member state assembly after the PDP, supported by the Congress and their arch-rivals National Conference, had staked claim to form the government.

Simultaneously, the two-member People’s Conference led by Sajjad Lone had also staked claim to form a government with 25 members of the BJP and other 18 unknown members.

The governor had dissolved the assembly citing horse-trading and lack of stability to form a government as the reasons. 

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