Restore J&K’s statehood before elections and delimitation: Rajesh Gupta

Jammu and Kashmir National Democratic Party Indian NDPI J&K Unit President Rajesh Gupta while addressing to the workers meet at Janipur today urged upon Government of India to restore the Statehood of Jammu and Kashmir without any further delay as it existed before August 5, 2019.He said the BJP led Government must fulfill all its assurances given to the leaders of various political parties at the earliest. The completion of the delimitation exercise before the restoration of J&K’ statehood was highlighted by Shah after the all-party meet. “…the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in the Parliament,” Shah had tweeted after the meeting.

Rajesh Gupta said the people of J&K who are suffering a lot in the absence of public representatives in J&K, are looking towards New Delhi with great hope. “Though Home Minister and Prime Minister have assured to restoration but have not given any specific time; there is a need to hold immediate Assembly election to restore the democratic rights of the people of J&K as they have been deprived their democratic right,” he said, adding that the Governor’s rule is no alternative.

He said that the party also demands that the political process must be restored in J&K and for that, the Government must announce the time for the elections so that the people can elect democratic Government “and the political parties start their activities for participation in the elections,” he said.

NDPI Chief pointed out that addressing people’s hardships and their burning issues is more important than holding delimitation or democratic exercise right now. The people of J&K are suffering even before abrogation of Article 370, breaking it into two UTs. COVID also added to their hardships. There is no one to listen to their woes. They have no easy access to the officers/ bureaucrats. This is the tragedy here.