JRL reiterates call for boycott of upcoming panchayat, municipal elections in J&K

Srinagar: Joint Resistance Leaders (JRL) on Monday reiterated the call for boycott of upcoming panchayat and municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which they termed as a “political gimmick to hoodwink international community”.
JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik while rejecting any electoral process as a substitute to right to self-determination, made a fervent appeal to the “freedom loving people of Kashmir to observe a complete election boycott to the upcoming municipal and local bodies elections in the Jammu and Kashmir.”“Urging the people to rise to the occasion to disprove any Indian writ on the ground in the shape of peoples support,” the JRL termed the “election drama as a political gimmick to hoodwink the International community that the people of Kashmir enjoy Indian democracy freely.”
“The highest per capita military power used in Jammu and Kashmir, in addition to the para-military and state police forces to conduct elections, speaks volumes about their civil liberty and other political and social rights of the people,” said the JRL, in a statement.
Referring to the election history of the state, the JRL said that in 1953, when the “so-called constituent assembly” was created, all the 76 MLAs were elected unopposed and the people remained aloof from any voting process.
The JRL termed the “much hyped elections as a bait to lure the pro-Indian politicians acting agents to change the demography and state subject law and to exploit the economic benefits of the state.”
Paying rich tributes to the Imam Hussain (RA), the JRL termed his sacrifice as a symbol of bravery to fight tyranny and subjugation. He taught us to differentiate between Right and Wrong and stand by the right, come what may, they said.
The JRL appealed for maintaining the unity and brotherhood at any cost.
The JRL also appealed the learned Ulemas, belonging to Shia and Sunni schools of thought, to shoulder their responsibilities to maintain unity and brotherhood at all levels.