Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 26: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Friday described fake jubilation of the BJP over the just concluded Urban Local Bodies elections in Jammu and Kashmir as hilarious, saying that the poll-result data speaks volumes about its rejection, especially by the people of Jammu.
"The BJP vote share has drastically dropped by less than half in the three pivotal city constituencies, constituting 76 wards of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, and still its leaders are gloating and celebrating", Rana said at a press conference held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this afternoon.
Rana wondered over the BJP leaders ill-conceived observations about National Conference having been taught in lesson by the people in ULB elections and said the party needs to do some sort of introspection. Due to its inept policies and mishandling of the situation in partnership of the PDP, the BJP created a situation in 2017 by-elections to Srinagar and Anantnag Parliamentary constituencies which witnessed just 7.13 per cent polls in Srinagar and cancellation of the Anantnag seat. Showing the mirror to the BJP, he said the State witnessed massive participation in both parliamentary and assembly elections of 2014 due to the conducive situation created by the then Omar Abdullah led government. While 26 per cent votes were polled in Srinagar parliamentary constituency, 28 per cent votes were polled in Anantnag in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, the 2014 assembly elections saw lowest percentage of 49 and highest 76 per cent, which speaks about the governance, he said adding that this time around little over three percent polling was held in the Valley.
On the elections held in the Valley, the Provincial President said that these can be summed up as unique and unheard of polls, which saw the only wrestler in the ring, spelling the rules and deciding the win in bouts. He said these elections will go as a very bad chapter in the democratic history of the State.
To a question, Rana said that the National Conference is a strong votary of democratic process and has always worked to uphold democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the party stayed away over the issue of Article 35A, adding that for a larger cause such sacrifices become imperative at times. He described the state subject laws as a rich legacy bequeathed to the posterity by Maharaja Hari Singh and said a growing consciousness is dawning upon the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, especially the Dogras of Jammu, with regard to their rights and the likely subjugation they might suffer in the event of these laws are dispensed with.
When asked about the Accession Day, the Provincial President said "We are part of the accession but we strongly believe that the conditions and constitutional guarantees set in the Instrument of Accession, which are its basic tenets, should not only be preserved but protected and upheld as well.
He also took the detractors of autonomy head on, saying due to ignorance some of them are deliberately trying to create a mischievous perception that the historical document tantamount to Aazdi. This, he said, it is an orchestrated campaign with malicious intent. |
