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| Omar doesn't want polls under Governor Rule? | | Floods and elections | | Rustam
JAMMU, Sept 10: The suffering of the people of Jammu & Kashmir caused due to floods is indeed unimaginable. Common people in the state suffered immensely during all these 25 years of secessionist and communal violence. They again suffered in 2005 when a massive earthquake shook parts of Kashmir Valley and Jammu region. But the situation was never that worse as it obtains today in the state. There are many parts of the state where the life has come to a grinding halt with all sections of society suffering and feeling the pain. It is difficult to say how many people have lost their lives and how many houses and shops have collapsed and damaged. It is also difficult to assess the damage to the vital infrastructure. According to one estimate, the business community alone has suffered a loss to the tune Rs 40,000 crore.
Rescue operations are still on and the Army, Air Force, Navy, CRPF and BSF are all fully engaged in the rescue operations. In fact, the Army has further intensified the rescue operations as weather conditions have improved. According to sources, the task is gigantic and rehabilitation of the devastated parts of the state would take time. The very fact that the Prime Minister has termed the tragedy as a "national-level disaster" should indicate the nature of the crisis. It is obvious that sufficient funds are required for rescue and relief operations and to mitigate the people's suffering.
The situation as it prevails today in the state in general and the affected areas in particular has made certain elements suggest that the assembly elections should be postponed for a few months so that the nation's attention remains focused on relief and rehabilitation operations. Indeed, it is a good suggestion. The situation is extraordinary and it would not be a bad idea if the assembly elections are postponed for a few months. Heaven would not fall if the new government is not in place on the due date - January 4, 2015. It could be formed six months later. Relief and rehabilitation operations are more important than elections at this critical juncture.
Ironically, National Conference working president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has opposed any delay in holding the assembly polls in the state on the plea of floods and said there would be no difficulty in holding the elections on time. "It (delay in polls on the plea of flood situation) should not happen. If you want to delay it, the life of Jammu & Kashmir Assembly will expire," he told reporters at Jammu in response to a query three days ago. "If you do not conduct elections till November-December then some of the areas of our state will get cut off," he said. "Then it will not be possible to hold elections till March-April. Then you will say that there should be Governor Rule for 3-4 months which is not good for any state. We will control the situation, which is bad. I feel that the election can be held at its own time. We feel that there would be no difficulty of holding the election," he also said.
It is manifestly clear from the statement of Omar Abdullah that he doesn't want the assembly elections under the Governor rule. He wants the assembly polls to be held under his own surveillance. The reasons are obvious. He needs to revise his stand in the larger interest of the affected people of the state. Even otherwise, he has nothing to lose because he has already missed the bus by mishandling the state. As for the Election Commission, it should assess the situation before announcing the poll schedule for J&K. |
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