Joint Resistance Leadership of separatists have asked people to stay away from the polls
Fearing terrorist violence, majority of the political parties on Sunday favored deferring the panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti chaired the all-party meeting to discuss whether to go ahead with the panchayat polls. However, most of the political parties favoured deferring the polls saying situation is not conducive given the resurgence of violence.
"Majority of the leaders said the situation was not conducive for holding the polls," said Abdul Haq Khan, J&K Minister for Law, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
The final decision about the polls will be taken in the cabinet meeting to be chaired by Mehbooba Mufti soon.
Earlier, in December, Mehbooba Mufti government had announced that the panchayat polls will be held from February 15 in the restive state. However, government had not issued any notification for the polls.
Tension has gripped the Kashmir valley after the resurgence of the violence and fresh spate of killings. Political parties fear that it may cast shadows on the polls as people may prefer to stay away from the democratic exercise given the vitiating atmosphere and terror threats.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) of separatists have called upon the people to stay away from the democratic process saying "India is using the election to negate Kashmiris demand for self-determination and freedom". Dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen has also issued orders to its cadres to gouge the eyes of the panchayat candidates by using acid to sabotage the democratic exercise in Kashmir.
Panchayat polls are being held in Jammu and Kashmir after a two-year delay. Elections were scheduled to be held in 2016 but due to the unrest post Burhan Wani killing the grassroots-level democratic exercise were delayed indefinitely.
Seen as one of the biggest achievement of the Omar Abdullah government, the panchayat elections were last held in 2011 after 33 years hiatus in Jammu and Kashmir. More than 80 per cent people had defied militants and cast their votes in the panchayat elections in 2011. More than 33,000 panchayat representatives were elected in the polls across the state in 2011.
THREAT WITHIN
- Joint Resistance Leadership of separatists have asked people to stay away from the polls.
- Hizbul Mujahideen said it will gouge the eyes of the candidates.
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