ECI was in hand-in-glove with state Govt: NC

Srinagar/April,8: National Conference (NC) on Tuesday said that postponement of by-polls in Anantnag by Election Commission of India (ECI) clearly indicated that the election conducting body was in hand-in-glove with the state government.
The opposition party also demanded the resignation of the government.
Addressing a presser here at Nawa-i-Subh party headquarters, NC General Secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar said, “Postponing by-polls for Anantnag parliamentary seat following the request of Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti’s brother clearly indicated that the ECI is hand-in-glove with the government.”
Sagar said that everybody is raising fingers on the credibility of ECI for deferring the Anantnag by-polls and issuing a re-poll notification for Srinagar polling stations.
He said that keeping in view of the situation in the Valley, they suggested for the deferment of polls but the government always showed their ‘arrogant attitude’ and claimed that they were ready for the polls.
“The Government of India has said that they were not informed regarding the elections prior to the issuance of notification while the state government has claimed that they had written to the ECI urging them to defer the polls. With such statements, we are unable to understand that who is running the state,” Sagar added.
He said that the government should resign as they don’t deserve to rule the people whom they are targeting with the bullets. “The government deteriorated the situation in the Valley ahead of the by-polls to enforce boycott as they knew that the people are against them. Instead of going for polls, the govt should have made conducive atmosphere for the polls. The hurry rush in holding by-polls has resulted in the eight innocent killings on polling day,” he added.
NC General Secretary said that the government should have initiated a dialogue with the separatists, which was also suggested by the NC patron and former chief minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah.
While condemning the eight civilian killings on polling day, Sagar said, “We express solidarity with the bereaved families and a probe must be initiated into the killings to find out the facts behind the innocent killings. The PDP-BJP government is playing politics over the dead bodies of Kashmiris.”
Saying that the government is holding Pakistan responsible for the deteriorating situation here, Sagar said, “Instead of holding Pakistan responsible for the situations, the government should look inwards what they are delivering to the people of Kashmir. Despite making promises with them, the government has failed to fulfill even a single promise done with the people.”
Meanwhile, senior NC leader and former finance minister, Abdul Rahim Rather said that the civilian killing on polling day was ‘political murder’ as the innocent people were targeted on this day.
“The Budgam district where the unfortunate incident occurred on polling day was the only district which was witnessing a huge turnout after militancy. Keeping in view of the facts, the government targeted the area to enforce boycott there,” he said, adding that how was it possible for the people to cast the ballots while they were wailing over the innocent killings.
He said that prior to the elections; the one militant was killed in Chadoora who according to his sources had urged for the surrender as he was ill. “The government in its plot of destabilizing the situation killed him instead of arresting the ailing militant,” he said.
On the occasion, NC provisional president, Nasir Aslam Wani, NC senior leader, Akbar Lone and MLA Habba Kadal, Shameem Firdous were also present.