Yechury bats for early election in Jammu and Kashmir

Ravi S.Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 19

CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury asked the Centre on Wednesday to hold Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir at the earliest. 

Yechury stated his views at the all-party meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called to discuss the possibility of “One nation, one election”. 

He said that the alienation of the Kashmiri people must be addressed with seriousness and that an election would be an important way to restore people’s confidence in the democratic process.

“If the conditions were conducive for holding Parliamentary elections, we see no reason for Assembly election not being held,” Yechury said.

Yechury expressed concern about the increasing number of terrorist attacks in the state, which have continued even after the Pulwama militant attacks and the Balakot strike.

At the meeting, Yechury suggested that the much-hyped strike on a terrorist camp in Balakot has had no deterrent effect on the terrorists. 

In light of this, “winning peoples’ confidence” was imperative, Yechury said. 

Jammu & Kashmir had plunged into a crisis after BJP walked out of its coalition with PDP last year. The Mehbooba Mufti-led government fell, resulting in the imposition of President’s rule over the state. 

The all-party meeting was held to discuss five issues, including ‘one nation, one election’. Other issues on agenda were ways to improve the productivity of the Parliament; building of a ‘New India’ in the 75th year of independence; programmes and commitments to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary; and development of “aspirational districts”.