NC leader and Member Parliament Akbar Lone
SRINAGAR – The National Conference (NC) on Friday announced that it will not take part in any elections in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir, where the situation is still uncertain and leaders of mainstream political parties, including three former Chief Ministers, remained under detention since August 5.
How can one think of taking part in any elections in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, senior NC leader and Member Parliament (MP) from Baramulla Mohammad Akbar Lone said.
Reacting to statement of Lt Governor of UT Girish Chandra Murmu at a police function in Jammu region on Thursday that assembly elections in the UT will be held soon, Mr Lone said how can he (Murmu) think of holding elections when life remained affected in the valley for the past 103 days.
He said senior leaders of mainstream political parties, including three former CMs—Dr Farooq Abdullah, sitting MP from Srinagar constituency, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti– are under detention since August 5 when centre scrapped Article 370, 35 A and downgraded the state and divided it into two UTs, evoking spontaneous strike in Kashmir.
“Our party will never think of taking part in any elections in the UT,” Mr Lone announced.
