Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief and party candidate for South Kashmir Lok Sabha constituency, Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Thursday said the organized torture against Kashmiris will come to an end if party is voted to power in centre.
Mir said that everything including NIA, ED, CBI, highway ban, trade ban is meant for Kashmir only. “But, if Congress is voted to power in centre, it will review all such issues so that peace will be given a chance in the State.
All such things have taken place during the tenure of PDP-BJP bonhomie in the State but such things are hampering the peace process, therefore, all the organized torture here would come to an end if party is voted to power,” he said.
The Congress state chief further praised the voters who cast their votes to seek change on the ground. “As people faced turmoil in last four years, the electorates came out from their homes to ensure change on the ground. Congress is the only solution for the people as no other half member party can help them to ensure change on the ground. People want a change and that is my belief,” he said.
He said the regional parties here always promise high and tall but later they go before New Delhi to beg for the things they had promised. “However, no other party besides Congress listens to their demands. Now, at a time when Congress is also in the fray and have mentioned it clearly that we will protect Article 370, the claims being made by these parties have no takers,” he said.
“Article 370 and 35 A is of the constitution of India not of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitution. Congress led by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru has already guaranteed it and now Rahul Gandhi is also promising its protection amidst the BJP’s clear promise about its revocation. Therefore, the promises being done by regional party leaders have no takers on the ground,” he added.
About three-phased elections for a constituency, Mir said nobody can even dream of the involvement of people in voting in 2014 as even turmoil, the people came out to cast their ballots. But at present, situation that the situation in Kashmir from last four years has deteriorated, therefore it may be the cause for Election Commission to conduct the polls in three phases to ensure proper security arrangements for epoepl as well as candidates.
However, he said that the proper security arrangements were still missing on the ground. “By conducting polls in three phases, the EC admitted situation was not conducive, but at the same time didn’t made proper security arrangements. I am proud of those voters who casted votes despite prevailing situation.
Interestingly, the security of at least 1100 political leaders was withdrawn due to which they could not came out to do campaigning. This all was planned that the South Kashmir seat will go in favour of BJP but people will never make this happen,” he added.
Asked about boycott in first phase of polls for South Kashmir constituency, JKPCC chief said, “It is not a good sign though, but taste has been given by the government already in the past as a candidate was elected in the previous by-elections on meagre 7.5 per cent votes. However, 87 per cent people boycotting polls is a concern for the nation.”
About Azad’s statement wherein he had said, people if boycott elections will affect party in South Kashmir, Mir termed his statement as visionary, saying if people in large number would cast their votes, then it ensure a good mandate on the ground but as “I said security arrangements were not up to the mark, therefore there may be people who preferred to stay away from polls.”
Asked about further two phases, Mir said there was no conducive atmosphere for the campaigning. “Today, we were also asked not to go for campaigning, so how can it be conducive atmosphere. Such a situation is stopping us to reach out to the people properly,” he added. He said an encounter has taken place today; therefore the situation has got further deteriorated here, which would hamper the campaigning further.
Asked whether hanging of Afzal Guru during Congress regime in centre was decreasing their voters, Mir said, “Guru’s hanging is not an issue this time. Such an issue was in 2014, but despite that our candidate from Guru’s residential place emerged victorious in that election. This time people are casting ballots against those who showered pellets upon them, booked them under PSA and others issues.”
He further said that Jammu and Kashmir under Congress will shine again as every step for the development of the State has been taken by Congress only and will further take many such steps that will end the sufferings of people.
Asked about Jammu Lok Sabha constituencies, Mir said, “We are hopeful that we will emerge victorious on both the seats as people have votes with good faith. Though there were allegations about defunct EVMs, but we have already filed the complaint before Election Commission. However, there was no reply so far.”