Srinagar : Chairman JK People’s Democratic Front (JK PDF ) and Former Minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen has sought to an exhaustive clarification from the Centre allay all the apprehensions among the people on the recent statement that 25 lakh more voters would be added in the voter electoral rolls including those outsiders residing ordinarily in Jammu and Kashmir . He said though government has made some clarifications in this regard but a sustained , vigorous and comrehensive awareness campaign at the block , tehsil and district levels need to be launched on warfooting basis in this regard to allay apprehensions that non domiciles would be enlisted in the electoral rolls.
In a statement issued on Sunday Hakeem has expressed his concern over the non seriousness of the EC representatives on the sensitive issue of proposed assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and addition of new voters from amongst outsiders residing ordinarily in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that matter needs to be investigation that under what circumstances such a statement was issued that caused unrest among the people of Jammu and Kashmir . He said that the statement has brewed fears among the people about fearness and transparency of proposed assembly election process in Jammu and Kashmir . He said a deliberate attempt has been made to upset people by announcing that voting rights would be given to temporary residents and 25 lack new voters would be enlisted in the electoral rolls. He said this statement has a potential to cause more alienation and mistrust towards mainstream..
” Both Center and J&K Governments should come clean on the matter and clear the dust in this regard , keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue . He said , non locals and temporary residents should, in no case be enrolled in the voter lists, to enable them cast their votes in J&K assembly elections. ” Allowing anyone ordinarily residing in J&K to enroll himself/herself as voter would completely disempower local populace ,” Hakeem added.
PDF Chairman said that the people were religiously sensitive and emotional about their special identity and would in no way tolerate any attempt to fiddle with demography of thier motherland – Jammu and Kashmir . ” Both Center and J&K Governments, in order to uphold sanctity of the electoral democracy , should immediately remove all apprehensions and mistrust caused by the press conference of the Electoral officer, the other day adding that the clarification given in this regard was not sufficient enough to clear doubts of the people completely .
Hakeem has urged the centre to take serious note of the situation and avoid every step that may cause mistrust among the people towards mainstream . “Any such decision to usurp the democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir through proxy would be unwise and against overall interests of the nation ,” Hakeem observed .
