Hold Panchayat, Local Bodies polls without any further delay: Tony

DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Nov 20
Taranjit Singh Tony, JKPCC General Secretary and District Development Council (DDC) member from Suchetgarh, today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their apparent fear of facing the upcoming Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, sensing a great humiliating defeat which was the main reason of delaying the polls in the union territory. He stated that BJP’s reluctance to embrace the electoral process stemmed from their apprehension of a possible electoral debacle.
In a statement issued here today, the senior Congress leader accused the BJP of “crushing democracy” by denying the people of J&K the right to elect their representatives. He asserted that BJP leadership is afraid of its devastation in the polls and that is why it is giving baseless alibis justifying arbitrary delay in the conduct of polls. He underscored that the BJP’s hesitation was not merely a tactical maneuver but a blatant disregard for the principles of democratic governance.
“The BJP is afraid of losing elections miserably, that is why the Modi government is shying away from elections,” Tony said.
“If the situation is conducive for Parliament elections, then the situation is very much conducive for Panchayat elections.”
Tony said “The reason behind dillydallying tactics on ULB and Panchayat elections is not unrest or turmoil in the UT but fear of facing people after doing nothing on ground except unending rhetoric and bogus promises.”
The logics which BJP leadership is giving on delay in poll process are all weird and mysterious because none among them is convincing, he added.
Tony also criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) for its inaction. “The Election Commission should also wake up from deep slumber and come out of the lap of the BJP government and take an independent decision,” he said.
Tony emphasized that the Saffron Party’s apprehensions about the impending polls in Jammu and Kashmir were symptomatic of their concerns about a weakened political position leading into the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Tony said that the BJP’s delay in holding elections is a sign that the party is not interested in democracy. “They are ruling J&K through the backdoor and the arrogant bureaucracy is not interested in addressing people’s issues,” he said.
He called on the people of J&K to rise up against the BJP’s “anti-democratic” policies. “Bakra ki Maa Kab tak khair mnanaye Gi’…one day BJP has to face the consequences of wrongdoings,” he emphasised.