Leadership will decide on joining Delimitation Commission: PDP spokesperson

The People's Democratic Party has said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have strong reservations about the Delimitation Commission and have several questions about the formation of the very commission.

Srinagar: Even as the discordance between the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre is diametrically opposite, PDP spokesperson Suhail Bukhari made it amply clear that the party leadership will take a call on the delimitation issue and meeting with the members of delegation commission schedule to visit the state on July 6. He also said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have strong reservations about the Delimitation Commission and have questioned about the very formation of it.

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti had called for a party meeting at her residence to discuss the further course of action on the delimitation issue. Speaking to reporters after the party's meeting, Bukhari said that why is the delimitation process only taking place in Jammu and Kashmir and not anywhere else.

“What is the reason that delimitation is going on at this time when it is not taking place anywhere else in the country. The whole delimitation process is under the Reorganisation Act under which Article 370 and 35A were revoked and statehood was also taken away. As far as the PDP's participation is concerned, the party high command will discuss the issue and only then a final decision will be taken,” he added.

When further asked about the party's stand over elections, Bukhari said a decision will be taken at an appropriate time.

Bukhari also went on add that PDP is part of the Gupkar Alliance and it will continue to be a part of it and the agenda on which it was formed, the restoration of Article 370 and 35A, the struggle for the constitutional rights of the people is there and we are all together in it.

A delegation of the Delimitation Commission will visit Jammu and Kashmir from July 6, during which the commission will hold discussion with the leaders of political parties as well as the District Development Commissioners about the formation of seven new assembly constituencies.

Earlier, three National Conference MPs, Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Abkar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi skipped the first-ever meeting of the delimitation commission that was held in February.

The commission was constituted in March last year to redraw the parliamentary and Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. Initially, the commission was given a year's time to complete the task, however, it was given an extension of one year by the Union Government in March this year in view of the Covid pandemic.