Kashmir has virtually rejected Municipal, Panchayat polls; Soz

Srinagar, Nov 21 (KNS): Senior Congress leader and former union minister, Prof Saif-ud-din Soz on Wednesday said that Kashmir has virtually rejected the electoral process as far as Municipal and Panchayat polls are concerned, saying that “it is so tragic that a fake Municipal elections was followed by a fake Panchayat polls in Kashmir.”
In a statement issued to KNS, Soz said that “What the Kashmiris know is different from what the Govt. of India wants us to believe. Kashmir has virtually rejected the electoral process as for Municipal elections and Panchayat elections were concerned. I share my personal experience of the recent Panchayat elections.”
“I travelled to Humhama, Sheikhpora, Ompora and other villages in Budgam in my neighbourhood and the election process was nowhere visible. Now, the Sarkar will put up Sarpanchs and Panchs to operate in the system,” he said.
He said that some people may declare themselves to be Sarpanchs and Panchs. “It may serve some purpose for Governor’s Administration, but no fake system can gain legitimacy to operate purposefully. That is what the reality is,” he said.
“Unfortunately, Govt. of India does not appreciate that the Stage-Managed ‘short-cuts’ will never yield stability in the system. The easy and workable proposition is to open an unconditional dialogue with the people of Kashmir,” he said.
“It would also be a workable proposition for Govt. of India to open the dialogue initially with the Hurriyat Conference, particularly with its front organization – the JRL,” Soz said, adding that “many a knowledgeable members of India’s Civil Society are aghast as to why Govt. of India is not doing in Kashmir what is workable and purposeful for it.” (KNS)