Political parties hold deliberation with Delimitation panel in Kashmir

SRINAGAR — For the first time after nullifying Article 370 in 2019, the political parties in the Valley on Tuesday participated in the delimitation exercise by meeting the five-member panel, that is on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

On the first day of Delimitation Commission’s visit to J&K, barring PDP, all the political parties met the panel here at Grand Lalit Hotel where they put forth their suggestions vis-à-vis the ongoing delimitation process.

The five-member panel reached Srinagar in the afternoon and drove straight to Grand Lalit where the series of meetings with the political parties began at 03:30 PM. The panel is on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, during which it will meet the political parties and also District Election Officers (DEOs) of all the 20 districts of the Union Territory.

Notably, PDP announced to stay away from meeting the panel and sent a letter to the commission wherein the party mentioned detailed reasons for not meeting the panel.

Pertinently, the political parties in Kashmir showed reluctance vis-à-vis participating in the exercise, terming the whole process as ‘unconstitutional’.

Several delegations from political parties including National Conference (NC), Congress, Peoples Conference (PC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), CPI (M), Apni Party, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) met the panel from 03:30 PM to 07:30 PM.

Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) leaders led by Abdul Rahim Rather met the panel and presented a memorandum wherein it has stated that delimitation exercise would be a credible effort in strengthening democracy only after full Statehood is restored to J&K.

Party’s provincial president, Nasir Aslam Wani told reporters that the exercise should have been at least delayed till the Supreme Court (SC) gives any verdict with regard to the petitions filed before it regarding August 5, 2019 decisions.

Wani also said that if the government has made its mind with regard to the delimitation exercise, the process should be completed in a transparent manner, so that the people are brought into confidence.

Soon after meeting the panel, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief, Ghulam Ahmad Mir told media persons that the party has made it clear during the meeting that it will not utter anything until and unless the report compiled by the commission in last over one-and-a-half year is presented to them.

“We met the panel and raised several issues including those, which are not the domain of the commission. But, we discussed every issue that took place since August 2019. We presented a detailed memorandum to the panel as well,” Mir said. However, he said that the party will speak or give suggestions vis-à-vis delimitation only after receiving any document prepared by the commission so far.

Peoples Conference (PC) leader, Khursheed Aalam told reporters that the party has told the panel that no steps should be taken that would further alienate the people of J&K.

“Delimitation exercise should be done as per the population. Land, deserts and stones don’t need representation. It is the people who need representation and the decision should be taken as per the population. The report should be compiled on the basis of the 2011 census,” he said.

Apni Party leader, Rafi Ahmad Mir while sharing the details said that the party talked about apprehensions of people that the Commission has already made its decision and are now buying the time now. “The panel assured us that every suggestion will be taken seriously,” he said.

He added that the party was not happy with the delimitation exercise, but there is a need to put forth suggestions as staying away will not yield any result. “We also wanted the process to be stopped till 2026. But, as the process has begun, there is a need to put forth the suggestions in the interests of the people,” he said.

CPI (M) delegation led by its J&K Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Malik called on the panel and presented its viewpoint and stated that restoration of full statehood is must for any electoral exercise. The delegation has reiterated the party’s stand on August 5, 2019 decisions.

“However, as you are visiting J&K, we found it appropriate to meet you and present our viewpoint on the delimitation exercise. We are not against delimitation, but wanted it to be carried along with the rest of the country. In 2002, J&K Assembly had amended the Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957 and Section 47(3) of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and put a freeze on delimitation till 2026. The decision was in line with the pan-India freeze on delimitation till the first census after 2026. Both Jammu and Kashmir High Court and the Supreme Court had upheld the decision of freeze on delimitation,” they said.

“We also believe that any electoral exercise must create confidence among people and Assembly elections, whenever they are held, must be conducted only after restoration of full statehood to J&K. It is not any favour, but our constitutional right. What is at stake is the credibility of the institutions and process itself. For that, this exercise has to be seen as free, fair and just. For any electoral exercise, restoration of full statehood is a must,” they added.

Sofi Yousuf, who led a four-member delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said that the party leaders have pitched for granting some constituencies in south Kashmir and Karnah, Tangdhar and other far-off areas to ST as the areas mostly have dwellers from the similar community. “We hope that the commission will come up with a good decision,” he said.