Srinagar/ March 17 (KNS): Chairman Peoples Democratic Front ( PDF) and former Minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen has termed the Election Commission of India’s decision not to hold parliamentary and assembly polls concurrently in J&K as disappointing . He said the people in J&K were hoping yearning for assemly elections concurrently with parlia-mentary elections, as they have been denied the right to choose their own government since 2014.
In a statement issued on Sunday Hakeem Yaseen while terming the Election Commission of
India’s decision not to hold parliamentary and assembly polls concurrently in J&K as disheartening said that prolonged denial of the right to choose their own government was unjustified and unconstitutional . He said If the conditions are conducive for holding the parliamentary elections in jammu and kashmir then how could holding assembly elections be impossible ? “If the situation is con-
ducive for LS polls in J&K then why not for the assembly elections,” Hakeem Yaseen questioned. “
Moreover holding of Parliamentary and assembly elections concurrently in j&k would provide an opportunity to implement the Centre’s vision of ‘One-nation, One–election’ Hakeem Yaseen observed adding that it was sad that the assembly polls have been delayed . He said even a all the political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had pleaded for holding both parliament and assembly elections in j & k concurrently before the EC during its recent visit . He said it was absured that on one hand Government beats the drumb that peace and security situation has improved in jammu and kashmir and in the same breath assembly elections are delayed here on security grounds. .It speaks volumes about duoble standard of the government.
PDF Charman has urged the EC to reconsider the decision and announce both parliamentary and assembly elections concurrently in jammu and kashmir as it was not too late as yet in this regard.(KNS)