Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Aug 20: Amid raging controversy over revision of voters in Jammu & Kashmir, the administration of J&K on Saturday said the exercise will cover existing residents of the Union Territory and increase in numbers will be of the voters who have attained the age of 18 years.
The Department of Information and Public Relations, J&K, today said media reports that more than 25 lakh voters will be added during the special summary revision of voters is a “misrepresentation of facts”.
“There have been media reports that more than 25 lakh additions will be there in the electoral rolls once the process of electoral roll revision starts. This is a misrepresentation of facts, which is being spread by the vested interests,” reads the advertisement published in local dailies by the DIPR.
In a bid to allay apprehensions of the public, the government said 10 lakh new voters have been added in Jammu & Kashmir since 2011 mainly due to the new voters who have attained 18 years of age.
“The number of electors in the Special Summary Revision of Jammu and Kashmir state in 2011 was 66,00,921 and the number in the electoral roll of the Union Territory now is 76,02,397.This increase is due to the new voters, who attained the age of 18,” the advertisement reads.
The government said the exercise of special summary revision of voters was being undertaken to enable youngsters who become eligible to vote to enroll themselves as electors.
“Besides, it allows a person who has changed his ordinary place of residence to enroll at a new location by getting himself deleted at the old location,” the government said.
It further clarified that there is no change in rules regarding buying of property and jobs in the Government of UT of Jammu & Kashmir and has no link to representation of voters or otherwise.
