Election Process In J&K-Home Minister's with KP Delegations-- A Report

Dr L N Dhar

The Union Home Minister, Shri SB Chavan convened a meeting on 3rd February, 1996 in his office with the representatives of Kashmiri Pandits to discuss the proposed political process and holding of Assembly elections in J&K State. This was the first time that a meeting of this kind was held and Kashmiri Pandits recognised it as an important factor in the proposed political process. This recognition was a consequence of the pressure mounted on the Government by the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi through protest demonstrations, dharnas and gherao under the direct action programme launched in May last year Earlier, a delegation of the Kashmiri Samiti had met the Prime Minister on 20th January 1996, to apprise him of the problems faced by the displaced community.

Other organisations which participated in the meeting with the Home Minister included AIKS, Panun Kashmir, AIKPC and the J&K Sangam, Kashmiri Samiti Delhi delegation, led by the President Shri N N. Kaul, comprised of Shri H N. Nehru, Dr L N Dhar and Shri Sunil Shakdher.

The Home Minister was reminded of the failure of the Govt. in discharging its primary responsibility of protecting our community and the subsequent neglect of the displaced people after their exodus from the Valley. Urgent need for rehabilitation of the displaced community was emphasized at the meeting as that alone can pave the way for restoration of normalcy. To ensure this, the Home Minister was urged to come out with a viable action plan immediately.

Strong emphasis was laid on the need to improve the conditions in the refugee camps in Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country and the streamlining of the disbursement of relief. Further, the facilities and concessions offered by the State Government of Maharashtra in medical and technical education to the displaced KP youth were brought to the notice of the Home Minister and he was. requested to provide similar facilities in other States.

On holding of elections in J&K, all the Delegations presented a unanimous view that time was not conducive for holding elections as free and fair elections were not possible unless the prevailing gun culture was totally eliminated. According to our representatives, the idea behind holding elections now was just to complete a formality and give out an impression that normalcy has been restored. Such a move, the Home Minister was told. would be a futile exercise because more than three lakhs. people were living out of the valley and their participation in elections was hardly possible as they can neither field their own candidates nor can they campaign for them in their respective constituencies in the Valley Recalling the last election held in the valley when TV sets were displayed by the militants at the polling centres to be awarded to those who would dare to caste the first vote, the Home Minister was told that if such a kind of election was. proposed to be held in J&K, it would be counterproductive and would not be in the interests of the nation. The Home Minister was also informed about the discrepancies in the voters' lists deliberately ignoring the registration of Kashmini Pandits who have attained the voting age during the period in exile.

The delegations stated in very clear terms, that in view. of all these facts, it would not be possible for Kashmiri Pandits to participate in elections if held and they would be left with no other option but to abstain from voting

Dr L N Dhar, Vice-President, Kashmiri Samiti Delhi

 

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Courtesy:- Dr L N Dhar and September 1996 Koshur Samachar