NEW DELHI: The Center is expected to conclude the delimitation process in Jammu and Kashmir by February and hold parliamentary elections immediately after winter, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Saturday.
Addressing a meeting of workers in the Devsar area of ​​Kulgam in southern Kashmir, about 75 km from here, Azad also said it was not possible to conduct polls during the years. next four months of winter.
“The next four months are not possible for elections and even if they (the Center) wanted it, we would have said no. We all said at the multi-party meeting (called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June) that the state must first be restored, then the delineation should be resumed.
“But, the government did not accept this. Thus, they should conclude the delimitation process until February and once the winter has passed, organize the elections in April, â€he told reporters.
The top congressional leader said the priority was not who would become the chief minister but how to restore the August 4, 2019 post to JK.
“The priority does not concern the chief minister, that is not the question. The priority is how to restore the position of August 4, 2019 … which will be done by reestablishing the state and then holding assembly elections, â€he said.
Azad said the demand for state restoration was not focused on Kashmir.
“There is no fight for the state. Jammu’s Hindu brethren, Sikhs, Kashmiri Muslims and even pundits want a state. No one should assume that only Kashmiris want a state, I have said it all the time and even in the multi-party meeting that even the leaders of the BJP want a state, â€he said.
On issues raised during meetings conducted by security forces, the congressman said the forces should take precautions in civilian areas so that there are no civilian casualties.
He also called on politicians to visit the militant infested areas of the valley to encourage the population.
“There is activism in three districts of Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama. They also witnessed activism earlier. This meeting was organized here after three years to encourage them, to cheer them up and so that they don’t feel like they have no one.
“It is important for leaders to visit areas where militancy reigns. Whatever their party, I will not go into details because the atmosphere in the state is not such that one speaks against a party. I ask all political parties that instead of pointing fingers at other parties, they try to create such an atmosphere in JK so that people are assured that politics or elections can take place here, â€he said. -he declares.
Azad said it was necessary to create an atmosphere in the areas infested with militants, as the inhabitants of these areas were “worried and became disappointed”.
“There is one type of disappointment here while there is another in Jammu, Katra or Udhampur,” he said without elaborating.
Addressing a meeting of workers in the Devsar area of ​​Kulgam in southern Kashmir, about 75 km from here, Azad also said it was not possible to conduct polls during the years. next four months of winter.
“The next four months are not possible for elections and even if they (the Center) wanted it, we would have said no. We all said at the multi-party meeting (called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June) that the state must first be restored, then the delineation should be resumed.
“But, the government did not accept this. Thus, they should conclude the delimitation process until February and once the winter has passed, organize the elections in April, â€he told reporters.
The top congressional leader said the priority was not who would become the chief minister but how to restore the August 4, 2019 post to JK.
“The priority does not concern the chief minister, that is not the question. The priority is how to restore the position of August 4, 2019 … which will be done by reestablishing the state and then holding assembly elections, â€he said.
Azad said the demand for state restoration was not focused on Kashmir.
“There is no fight for the state. Jammu’s Hindu brethren, Sikhs, Kashmiri Muslims and even pundits want a state. No one should assume that only Kashmiris want a state, I have said it all the time and even in the multi-party meeting that even the leaders of the BJP want a state, â€he said.
On issues raised during meetings conducted by security forces, the congressman said the forces should take precautions in civilian areas so that there are no civilian casualties.
He also called on politicians to visit the militant infested areas of the valley to encourage the population.
“There is activism in three districts of Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama. They also witnessed activism earlier. This meeting was organized here after three years to encourage them, to cheer them up and so that they don’t feel like they have no one.
“It is important for leaders to visit areas where militancy reigns. Whatever their party, I will not go into details because the atmosphere in the state is not such that one speaks against a party. I ask all political parties that instead of pointing fingers at other parties, they try to create such an atmosphere in JK so that people are assured that politics or elections can take place here, â€he said. -he declares.
Azad said it was necessary to create an atmosphere in the areas infested with militants, as the inhabitants of these areas were “worried and became disappointed”.
“There is one type of disappointment here while there is another in Jammu, Katra or Udhampur,” he said without elaborating.
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