Srinagar, Mar 11 (KNS): Supreme Court lawyer and chairman Kashmir Policy and Strategy Group Ashok Bhan while welcoming the visit of ECI to Jammu & Kashmir said that people have been longing and eagerly awaiting the Election Commission to declare the commencement of the simultaneous polls.
In a statement, issued to KNS, he said that the people say that the prolonged governor rule is continuously depriving them of their legitimate fundamental right to vote and elect the representative government of their own. "The right to democracy through elections is one of the basic inalienable rights of the citizens eligible to vote."
He said that the Supreme Court has held that democracy is one of the inalienable basic features of the Constitution of India and forms part of its basic structure.
"The concept of democracy as visualised by the Constitution pre-supposes the representation of the people in Parliament and State legislatures by the method of election. As such the Governor rule is an exception and the elected representatives government is the rule."
He said the it has been more than 5 years that the people have been deprived of their elected representation since assembly was dissolved. "As such all the necessity for ECI to seriously consider and decide the elections to the legislature along with the ensuing Parliamentary elections."
He said that ECI is expected to study the ground situation and appreciate that the Kashmir affairs has a layered nature, obscured by distorted historical narratives, self-serving myths, and conflicting political interests.
"Yet, amidst these complexities, the current ECI needs to demonstrate a sincere commitment to fostering an environment conducive to peace and progress, aiming to break the cycle of violence perpetuated by adversaries, by restoring legitimate democracy in Kashmir."
Bhan said that such a move aligns with the constitutional ethos of the nation and could pave the way for synchronized national and state elections. (KNS)