EDITORIALPrime Minister, Narendra Modi on Thursday said that preparations for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir have begun and the day is not far when the people of the Union territory will elect their own government and also get its statehood back. Following PM’s remarks, Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered the special summary of electoral rolls in the UT that should be completed by August 20, 2024. Supreme Court of India, while upholding GoI’s decision of abrogating Article 370, has directed that assembly elections in the UT should be held by September, 2024. Now that the Prime Minister has made a public announcement about assembly elections, people of the UT are expecting the process to begin soon.
Jammu and Kashmir needs a democratic set-up and people need to be given a chance to exercise their democratic right to choose their representatives. A bureaucratic government, no matter how efficient it may be, can never ever be a replacement of democratically elected government. India is the largest democracy of the world and it can’t afford to deny the people of Jammu and Kashmir right to elect their own representatives. People of UT have exhibited their faith in democracy by participating in historic numbers in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. And Prime Minister has acknowledged the fact as he complimented the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the record turnout in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections and breaking the record of 35 years.
Gone are the days when people would be forced to boycott elections and stay away from democratic process. They have rejected the boycott politics and have reposed faith in the democracy. In this backdrop it is responsibility of the ECI and GoI to ensure that elections to the assembly are held as soon as possible as like other parts of the country, the people of Jammu and Kashmir too aspire and deserve to be partners in their own governance. For that they need to choose the representatives of their choice who are well aware about their aspirations and issues.
Once elections are held and people of J&K have their government of choice, the GoI should move towards restoration of statehood. Prime Minister has publicly announced that it would be restored. Jammu and Kashmir has a glorious history and used to be referred to as Crown of India. It can’t be denied statehood and therefore people have high hopes that once assembly elections are held, government formed, GoI, as promised on the floor of parliament, would restore the statehood.
