Restore Statehood, Hold Elections in J&K: Harsh Dev

Seeking restoration of statehood and installation of a democratically elected government in J&K, Harsh Dev Singh NPP President and former Minister today said that the present BJP regime had caused huge resentment in the hearts and minds of the people of J&K through its weird experimentation. He said that with its statehood status robbed and elections denied, J&K was made to bleed by the saffron rulers quite unmindful of the sentiments of its people. He was speaking at a seminar organised by “Centre for Peace and Progress” at India International Centre, New Delhi today accompanied by senior leaders of NPP Sh. Raj Kapoor and Sudesh Dogra.

Speaking on the occasion, Harsh Dev Singh said that while the people of the erstwhile state were mystified and befuddled by the abrupt abrogation of Article 370, they had expressed their strong opposition to the dismantling of 200 year old historical State of J&K and downgrading it to the level of UT. He said that such a move of BJP led government had not only lowered the morale of the people of erstwhile State but caused huge disenchantment in the hearts and minds of general masses. “It was not a demotion of the State only. In fact every sensible citizen felt downgraded and humiliated. It had deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of J&K who felt belittled and demoted”, said Singh.

Alleging subversion of democracy and denial of popular govt in J&K, Singh said that BJP led govt was inventing one excuse after the other to deny democratic rights to the people of erstwhile state and to continue its proxy rule through backdoor. He said that while no initiative had been taken to restore popular rule in J&K, the govt in the UT seemed to have been outsourced to bureaucrats mostly from outside the state, having hardly any connect with the general masses who were suffering for even the basic amenities. The silence of GOI and ECI over J&K while holding Elections for other states amply revealed the intentions of the centre which seemed hell bent to continue its indirect rule in J&K through these bureaucrats. He said that with the political process having been rendered defunct in the new UT, political parties discredited and discouraged and opposition parties suppressed, the democracy had been reduced to a farce in J&K which had eventually given rise to present tensions in the valley and elsewhere in J&K.

Maintaining that legitimate, elected govt. alone could deal with obsequious challenges posed by the rogue nation, Singh questioned the rationale behind repeated postponement of Assembly Elections in J&K. Strongly condemning the escalation in militancy related activists, he called upon the centre to initiate political process in J&K and ensure restoration of popular rule in the erstwhile state at the earliest. Rather than suppressing the main-stream political parties, these should be encouraged and taken into confidence for restoration of normalcy in the UT. Remember, the proxy rule through outside bureaucrats was not the solution to the woes afflicting J&K. The Advisors and bureaucrats had hardly any access to the general public who were feeling alienated. An elected govt therefore alone, in view of its accessibility and proximity with the common masses, could enlist their support in fighting cross border terrorism exported by the hostile neighbour. Questioning the rationale behind repeated postponement of Assembly Elections, Singh said that vested interests in the present bureaucracy were among the biggest stumbling blocks in restoration of democratic govt in J&K.

Harsh Dev said that the Election Commission had earlier taken a call for simultaneous polls of Assembly and Parliament which however did not materialize due to the interference by one political party. ECI later issued a statement on 4th June, 2019 stating therein that the EC “after the conduct of Amarnath Yatra will announce the election schedule for the conduct of Assembly Elections in J&K”, revealed Singh adding that it too turned out to be a damp squib. He reminisced that during the visit of the Full Election Commission headed by CEC to J&K in February, 2019 all political parties except BJP had favoured Assembly Elections in J&K in April–May, 2019. He regretted that the said Elections were avoided at the behest of BJP alone to keep the ruling party in good humour. Likewise, statements of early Assembly polls were issued by the central govt, Governor and the Lt. Governor of J&K also, which too created only cynicism amongst the masses in view of the frequency with which they were made and then forgotten.

He appealed to the social, political organisations and NGOs present on the occasion to contribute their might. Singh sought early revival of democracy by putting an end to proxy rule imposed by the centre in J&K to save the Constitution and Rule of law.