Srinagar: Even before the Delimitation Commission could start its four-day consultation process, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made it clear that it will stay away from any meeting. The Commission has reached Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday to meet leaders of different political parties to discuss and facilitate future courses of action.
In a letter addressed to Justice (retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai, who heads the commission, PDP general secretary GN Lone Hanjura said the party will not be a part of the exercise whose 'outcome is widely believed to be pre-planned'.
“Our party has decided to stay away from this process and not be part of some exercise, the outcome which is widely believed to be pre-planned and which may further hurt the interests of our people,” Hanjura said in the letter.
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Terming August 5, 2019, the decision of modifying Article 370 and 35A as unconstitutional, the PDP said that the commission is part of the same exercise, and therefore unconstitutional and illegal.
The letter read that the people of J-K are “humiliated and demeaned” by downgrading the 200-year-old state and bifurcation.
Criticising the commission, the PDP said it “lacks” constitutional and legal mandate and its very existence and objectives have left the people of J-K with many questions. There are apprehensions that the delimitation exercise is part of the overall process of political disempowerment of the people of J-K that the Government of India has embarked on.
Read: Delimitation commission to begin J&K visit today, PDP to skip meet
“At the very core of these apprehensions is the process through which the commission has been constituted and the fact that while the delimitation process across the country has been put on hold till 2026, J&K has been made an exception," the party said, adding, "There are apprehensions that the process is aimed at realizing the political vision of a particular political party in J&K wherein, like other things, the views and wishes of the people of J&K would be considered the least."
The delimitation commission headed by retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Chief State Electoral Officer KK Sharma will be meeting delegations of major political parties including the National Conference, Peoples Conference, Apni Party and Congress among others.
The commission will also meet deputy electoral officers in Kashmir and Jammu during its visit which begins today and culminates on July 9.
