Srinagar by-poll candidates appeal people to boycott re-polls

Srinagar/April 12:  The seven parliament candidates for Srinagar who were in the fray of by-polls on Wednesday jointly called for boycott in the re-polls, slated to be held on Thursday for 38 polling stations.
The candidates said that they won’t let their brothers to die.
The seven candidates including state president of Rashtriya Jankranti Party (RJP), Mirza Sajad Hussain Beigh, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha leader, Chetan Sharma, Rashtriya Samajwadi Party (Secular) leader, Engineer Sajad Reshi and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Bikram Singh, besides three independent candidates, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Ghulam Hassan Dar, Mehraj Rashid Malik held a joint press conference Wednesday at a local hotel here.
Mirza Sajad while talking to the reporters said that they were not taken into the confidence before taking the decision the re-polling in 38 polling stations.
He said that they tried to meet the returning officer and Chief Election Officer to register their protest but unfortunately the officers were not present.
Saying that it is not an election but selection, Mirza Sajad said, “The people are being befooled with such exercises. We appeal the people to stay at their homes and don’t cast the ballots as we won’t let our brothers to die intentionally. The unfortunate incident that took place on Apr 09 was painful.”
He questioned that if the atmosphere is not conducive for the polls in Anantnag then how come it is conducive for the 38 polling stations which witnessed pro-freedom protests on Apr 9.
Mirza Sajad said, “The government is putting the lives of Kashmiris at risk through this re-polling. The fingers are being raised at the credibility of ECI for postponing the polls on the request of PDP candidate.”
He said that the unlike Jammu, the protesters here are being targeted with the bullets, which expose the Government of India’s policy towards Kashmir.