In his first speech in Srinagar since the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening promised Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and restoration of the statehood to the Union Territory 바카라soon바카라. However, the regional parties are sceptical more than convinced about it.
바카라The people of Jammu and Kashmir elect their representatives at the local level; through them, you find ways to solve problems. What can be better than this,바카라 the Prime Minister asked while speaking at the Sheri Kashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of the Dal Lake here. 바카라Therefore, now the preparations for the Assembly elections have also started. The time is not far when you will elect the new government of Jammu and Kashmir with your votes. That day will also come soon when Jammu and Kashmir will once again make its future better as a state,바카라 he said.
However, regional political leaders have doubts given the long delay in holding Assembly elections in J&K. 바카라Just so you know, the ECI must follow the Supreme Court's timeline for elections, while the government바카라s sole responsibility is to ensure a peaceful election atmosphere. Regarding statehood, we've heard it will be restored "soon" over 20 times in four years. Spoiler 바카라 "soon" is still nowhere near,바카라 Tanvir Sadiq, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah바카라s political advisor was quick to react.
While the PDP leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra compared this 바카라soon바카라 with the Prime Minister바카라s similar assurance for Assembly elections to Jammu and Kashmir soon after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Parra shared a report Reuters of August 8, 2019, on X which reads: 바카라India to hold state Assembly elections in J&K soon: Modi. 바카라
While remembering former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee바카라s oft-quoted quote of Insaaniyat (Humanism), Jamhuriyat (Democracy) and Kashmiriyat (syncretic culture of Kashmir), Modi said he saw Vajpayee바카라s dream being realised in today바카라s Kashmir as in Parliamentary elections, the region saw democracy winning with voter turnout breaking all previous records of the past 30 to 40 years. He attributed this change in J&K to his government바카라s efforts over the past ten years. He said for the first time, the Indian constitution was fully implemented while the wall of Article 370 had been broken down.
The Apni Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party described the statement of Prime Minister Modi as significant, saying it brought hope and cheer among people.
바카라Prime Minister's announcement that preparations for the assembly elections have begun and that J&K will get back its statehood is highly significant,바카라 said Altaf Bukhari, president of the Apni Party. 바카라People have been eagerly waiting for the fulfilment of the promise for the restoration of statehood to J&K and their democratic right to choose their own representatives to place them at the helm. PM's announcement has brought a wave of hope and cheer,바카라 Bukhari said. The Apni party was formed after the abrogation of Article 370 and is often accused by the National Conference as a B-team of the BJP, charges that the Apni Party denies.
The Prime Minister바카라s announcement in Srinagar has come at a time, when many experts cite recent militant attacks in Jammu as a reason to seek postponement of the elections.
However, the narrative this time has been created by the former Army Chief General V P Malik. Malik in his recent interviews has stated, 바카라We must not be in a hurry in holding elections in September바카라 given the militant surge in Jammu. Malik advocated that elections should be postponed till next year. Malik is the first top former Army chief to seek postponement of the polls, creating furore among the people of Jammu and Kashmir who have been waiting for the elections since June 19, 2018, when the People바카라s Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government fell.
Thirteen months later, the BJP government on August 5, 2019, repealed Article 370 and turned J&K into two union territories 바카라 J&K and Ladakh 바카라 amid a communication blockade and arrest of thousands including three former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah rejected any suggestion for postponing Assembly polls given the terror attacks. He says postponing elections due to the terror attacks amounts to 바카라giving in to these extremist forces so that they have a sense of achievement바카라.
바카라You have NO gains in Kashmir if militant outfits are able to derail the elections that the PM, HM and Election Commission have committed to holding before the SC deadline of September 30,바카라 Omar said.
The Supreme Court, in its decision on December 11 last year, while upholding the abrogation of Article 370, directed the Election Commission of India to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, leading a five-judge Constitution bench, said that direct elections were a paramount feature of democracy and could not be withheld. However, the political parties now are accusing the BJP of creating a narrative against Assembly polls.
바카라What바카라s more surprising is that this has come from an army officer who saw Lok Sabha polls happening in J&K soon after the Kargil War and during the height of militancy in 1999. What a shame!바카라 Omar said.
Mohit Bhan, the spokesman of the PDP said, the recent massive turnout in parliamentary elections shows the people's commitment to the democratic process. 바카라Further postponement will only alienate them and dent the belief in institutions. There is no valid reason to delay assembly elections when people are ready to elect their representatives. Timely elections are crucial for addressing regional grievances and ensuring good governance,바카라 he added.
He says any delay undermines democratic rights and puts a question mark on the Government of India's claims of normalcy and stability you can바카라t have the cake and eat it too.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed its highest poll participation in the last 35 years. The combined voter turnout (VTR) at the polling stations across all seats in J&K was 58.46%. Jammu and Kashmir comprises five parliamentary constituencies, Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag Rajouri, Udhampur and Jammu.
According to the ECI, the poll participation percentage witnessed a 30-point jump from the last general election in 2019 where it was 19.16%. The three constituencies in the Valley 바카라 Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri 바카라 recorded a VTR of 38.49%, 59.1% and 54.84% respectively, the highest in the last three decades. The other two constituencies, Udhampur and Jammu recorded 68.27% and 72.22% voter turnout, respectively. In the parliamentary polls, electors in the age group of 18-59 years formed the major part of electors in J&K.
On July 8, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that it has decided to accept applications seeking allotment of common symbols under Para 10B of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order 1968 for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect. However, the ECI didn't announce any dates.
Although the announcement generated a brief buzz, unless the dates for the Assembly elections and the restoration of statehood to J&K are announced, any "soon" might still be far off.
