Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir People’s Democratic Front ( J&K PDF) has urged the Delimitation Commission to make population that too as per 2011 census but not geographical area as the basic criteria for delimiting and redrawing assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir in it’ s ongoing delimitation exercise. The party has made it clear to the delimitation commission that any proposal or formula for delimitation of assembly constituencies aimed at dis-empowering any particular region would be totally unacceptable to Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Front (Secular) .
In a written memorandum submitted to the Chairperson of Delimitation Commission ,Justice ( Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai , a four member delegation of PDF, has exuded confidence that the delimitation commission would take measures for reducing the trust deficit created due to the bifurcation and downgrading of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state into two union territories and withdrawal of it’s special status, which was guaranteed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir under the Constitution of India. The PDF delegation has urged the Delimitation Commission to maintain the ratio of representation of Jammu and Kashmir regions in Jammu and Kashmir assembly as it was in the assembly of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and any addition or alteration in the previous assembly constituencies structure should be strictly on the basis of 2011 census.
Due to his I’ll health, Chairman of PDF , Hakeem Yaseen could not himself meet the Delimitation Commission and sent a 4 member delegation of PDF, along with a written memorandum signed by him , to meet the Delimitation Commission.
The PDF delegation also urged the Delimitation Commission to take on board the MLAs of last two terms of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir assembly , in case any addition and alteration in their respective assembly constituencies was proposed.
Besides submitting it’s written memorandum,the four member delegation of PDF also discussed with the Chairperson of the Delimitation Commission and it’s members a wide range of prevailing social, political and developmental issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir ,
The delegation also urged restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before conducting assembly elections , stating therein that it would be a big CBM to remove mistrust prevailing among the people in the wake of unilateral decisions taken against the will of people post August 5 ,2019 . The party delegation further urged the Delimitation Commission to ensure maximum transparency and fairness in it’s proposed exercise to redraw assembly constituencies in Jammu and kashmir . The party expressed the hope hoping that this exercise of delimitation would become the means for further strengthening mutual bonds and integration between the people of various regions of Jammu and Kashmir. ” There should be no attempt to change demography or disempower any region or any particular area of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state under the garb of proposed delimitation exercise”, the Delimitation Commission was told by the party delegation in unambiguous terms.
