Jammu, August 13 (Scoop News)- Pandit Moti Kaul, senior leader of BJP, raised various issues regarding the election process started recently for coming Assembly Elections in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference, here at Jammu, he expressed displeasure on the arduous and complicated procedures set for displaced Kashmiri Pandits. ‘They have been facing enormous difficulties in exercising their democratic right of franchising votes’, said Kaul. He appealed Chief Election Commissioner of India that filling up the ‘M’ forms have become the most cumbersome and stumbling block in taking part in the election process and as such this process should be stopped in the coming elections. Instead of ‘M’ Forms the ration cards should be used as the displaced Kashmiri Pandits who are registered in the office of Commissioner, Relief and Rehabilitation and the voter lists should be prepared by the Relief Commissioner office. The past experience has shown that filling up ‘M’ Forms has dejected the displaced lot and they feel alienated in this biggest democratic country.
Kaul also apprehended that the deletion of the names of Kashmiri Pandits from the voter lists, without assigning any reason, is a well knit design to deny Kashmiri Pandits from taking part in electing the representatives of their choice. It is also evident that, behind the veil, it is an exercise of keeping Kashmiri Pandits away from political empowerment. Past twenty-two years are witness that the authorities like Relief Commissioner and the election office Jammu have been showing non-seriousness in making the election procedures for the Kashmiri Pandits simpler and easier.
Kaul said that it is an irony that despite filling up of forms repeatedly in the past by the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, neither they have been given photo identity cards, nor their forms have been updated. No corrections have been made. Instead of rectifying the mistakes the latest display of voter lists show unexpected mistakes. Kaul stressed the need of understanding the importance of these cards and appealed Election Commission of India to facilitate these cards well before the electioneering dates.
Kaul also demanded that the last date of enrolment for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community should be well extended with the advertisements given in leading newspapers and in the community newspapers and magazines. He also asked Election Commission to appoint efficient BLO’s and ABLO’s in good numbers. They must be accounted for the job assigned to them so that they perform their duties satisfactorily.
Pt. Moti Kaul also said that with the Change of Guard at the centre hope of Displaced Kashmiri Pandits for good days are imminent but we have to struggle for it in the days to come. The recent Parliamentary Elections in India have proved greatness of Indians and India and have shown a lesson of democratic values to the world. Under these circumstances it becomes more important for the election authorities to make the procedures of displaced Kashmiri Pandits simple so that they perform their fundamental duties more efficiently and interestingly, said Kaul.
Kaul was flanked by Vir Saraf who was recently appointed Poornakalik for Kashmir, Triloki Nath Bhat, Pushkar Nath Pandita, and Ashok Bhat was also present in Press confrence.
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