Says NC biggest party in J&K, will sweep assembly polls
Srinagar: Expressing regret that his party National Conference (NC) did not participate in 2018 Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister Dr Abdullah now demanded proper security for the members of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) who are being targeted by militants.
Speaking at the 4th parliamentary outreach programme for strengthening Parliamentary Raj Institutions (PRIs), which was inaugurated by Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla in Srinagar on Tuesday, Dr Abdullah said he now regrets why his party (NC) did not participate in the panchayat polls, held on non party basis.
However, the NC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also boycotted Block Development Council (BDC) polls held in October 2019 in protest against the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A besides dividing the erstwhile state into two Union Territories (UTs).
Later when District Development Council (DDC) polls were held all the political parties, including NC and PDP participated to give a tough fight against the BJP.
Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar constituency, Dr Abdullah requested Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who was present on the dias, to provide proper security to members of PRI who are being targeted by the militants.
He said the politicians who are standing with the country are targets of militants and it is now the duty of the country to protect them.
He expressed anguish that government officials of the UT administration are not answering the phone calls of people. They do not pick up phones as if some ghost is hanging upon them, the former CM said and requested LG Sinha to instruct officials to answer phone calls of people.
However, he said, elections will be held and a new government will be formed soon which will make these officials answerable to the people.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Member of Parliament from Srinagar said that Panchayati Raj Institutions are the foundation stone of our democracy and called for providing more resources to these institutions and transparency in implementation of works at the Panchayat level.
He exhorted the representatives of these bodies to work honestly and serve the people in all possible ways. He also recalled several attempts made in the past to implement the three tier system in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that newly elected representatives would win the trust of the people, in times to come.
Meanwhile, a local news agency, KNO has quoted Dr Farooq Abdullah as saying that his party will sweep assembly elections in J&K if polls are held in a transparent manner and that NC will form the next government.
Dr Farooq while replying to a query about whether NC was preparing for the upcoming Assembly polls, said: “We will sweep and win elections, if polls are held in a transparent manner….you see…I am saying this with authority as NC is the biggest party in J&K.”
