Owais Gul
Srinagar, Feb 15: While the Supreme Court (SC) has passed directions for holding assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir before September 2024, National Conference (NC) here has stated that rule of ‘King without a crown’ has to end and the polls must be held to restore the democracy in Union Territory.
In an exclusive chat, NC General Secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar, said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been preparing for elections for the last ten years now, which has witnessed an unnecessary delay so far.
He added if the situation is conducive for polls, the elections should be held at earliest. “In case the situation is not good for polls, the government should make it clear before the nation,” he added.
Sagar also said that the present bureaucratic rule is not favouring the people, but the elected representatives are always a better choice for the people, who can resolve their issues.
Referring to the developmental claims of the LG led administration; Sagar said that employment, boost in tourism sector and others are part of the development and it needs to be understood how these challenges have been tackled.
“There was no development in place when Dr Farooq Abdullah took over and he constructed bridges, schools and other things, for which the centre released the funds, which are even being utilized at present,” he said.
Referring to the August 05, 2019 decision, he said a massive change has been done by the government while the verdict in Supreme Court (SC) was also not in their favour. “It is for the first time that any State was downgraded to Union Territory. People here have been taken for granted,” he said.
Asked about the agenda of NC for next assembly polls, he said a working committee of the party will sit in this regard and come up with the proper agenda. “Already NC’s political agenda has been harmed by making massive changes and now it is a crucial time, the NC working committee will sit to decide the agenda for the polls,” he added.
India is known for its diversity and it is not possible to end it, Sagar said.
Referring to the statements of LG Manoj Sinha, he said, “King without a Crown are getting spaces in newspapers, but the fact is all the Governors who claimed the development and other things in the past left from here. Governor’s rule is against the democracy and it is imperative to hold elections to restore the democracy,” he said.
