Jammu, October 3: In a bid to downplay the ongoing controversy over holding of elections to the Block Development Councils (BDCs) on party basis amid detention of political leaders, the J&K Government on Wednesday said these elections were being held for elected panchayat members and not for detained leaders.
“These (detained) political leaders are not participating in the BDC elections. Only a select group participates in this poll exercise as the elected panchayat members have the mandate to vote and elect new chairpersons of the BDCs. No panchayat member has been detained anywhere and if any such particular incident has taken place, we will allow them to take part in the elections,” Farooq Khan, Adviser to the J&K Governor, told mediapersons on the sidelines of a function here.
The Adviser also claimed that barring closure of shops, situation was normal in Kashmir Valley and it would further improve in the days to come.
Opposition parties have slammed the Centre and the Governor’s administration for announcing the conduct of BDC polls on the party basis without taking all political groups into confidence. They alleged that the decision had been taken “to benefit the BJP” in the polls.
“The administration has regularly been monitoring the situation. Earlier, the government restored landline service in Kashmir and mobile network across Jammu. Similarly, the decision on restoration of Internet in Jammu and Kashmir will be taken shortly,” Khan said.
Cong not to boycott poll, NC yet to decide
- While the Congress has decided not to boycott the BDCs polls scheduled to be held on October 24, the National Conference (NC) on Wednesday said it was yet to decide over its participation in the elections.
- “We were freed on Tuesday evening. We will hold discussions with our party colleagues to decide what to do next as far as the BDCs polls are concerned,” responded Devender Singh Rana, NC, after being asked over his party’s decision to participate in the elections.
- Ravinder Sharma, chief spokesperson of the Congress, said his party would not boycott the elections but termed the electoral exercise being held as “undemocratic hijack of institutions”
