Restore Essential Service Contracts Put on hold under MCC Guidelines: Hakeem to JK Govt, J&K CEO, ECI

Srinagar : Chairman Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Front (J&K PDF) and former Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen has voiced his serious concern over the suspension of essential service contracts by Jammu & Kashmir Government and sought immediate intervention of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer and Election Commission Of India(ECI) for restoration of essential service contracts across Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday Hakeem said that though strict implementation of the model code of conduct (MCC) guidelines is a welcome move but putting on hold essential service contracts on key developmental activities under the garb of MCC guidelines is not an election related practice and precedence seen in past.Pointing out that never ever in decades of electoral history has the Government put on hold essential service contracts during Election periods but this year Jammu & Kashmir Government has put on hold essential service contracts without any such direction from the Election Commission Of India (ECI).
Calling upon the J&K Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) PK Pole and the Election Commission of India to relax the Model Code of Conduct Guidelines to allow essential service contracts during election periods Hakeem said that since farmers are already grappling with the challenges of this year’s long dry spell of the winter season amid commencement if horticulture and agriculture seasons there is urgent need for uninterrupted access of people to critical infrastructure such as drains, canals, and other facilities . He also said that for supply of equipments to hospitals and facelifting of tourist infrastructural facilities the allotment of contracts and supplies should not be put on hold under MCC guidelines.
Reminding both the Government and as well as the top election authorities that people heavily depend on operation of such vital services which have a direct bearing on their livelihoods,yield of their crops and business activities,Hakeem urged the Government and the top Election authorities to take a lenient view on operation of essential service contracts and lift all the restrictions put on them under MCCC guidelines. He called upon both the Government and as well as top Election authorities to draw a balance between the electoral precedences and the smooth operation of essential services in view of the clash in the timing of the election and the commencement of farming and tourist seasons in Jammu and Kashmir.