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Authorities use KP’s as fodder, electoral process set in motion, community terms it a betrayal
equates ‘postal ballot’ as disenfranchisement.




Jammu, September 20, (Scoop News)-Even though the state authorities have set the process for the first phase in motion, displaced Kashmiri Pandits are feeling betrayed by forcing them to use postal ballots to vote in the upcoming Municipal and Panchayat elections in the state.

They even threatened to boycott the polls in case their concerns are not addressed beforehand.

In a letter mailed to the editor and published in a local English daily, Shiban Khaibri , a columnist, has pointed out that ”It stands to no logic that Kashmiri Pandit community uprooted from their moorings and living outside Kashmir for the last 28 years are asked to take part in the proposed elections to Municipal bodies and Panchayats by postal ballot. It is difficult to comprehend as to whether, like this act of attaching them cosmetically and spuriously with Kashmir when they are not allowed to live, they can take part in any democratic process justifiably and in a manner warranted by the intrinsic tenets of democracy…………………………..it merits to be termed as their bankruptcy of their policies adopted towards the biggest human dislocation in India after the detestably partitioning the country in 1947 at the behest of communal Muslim League, that of exodus and genocide (akin to) of the ethnic Kashmiri Pandit community.”

“Denying the voting rights at the present place of living to the exiled community is detestable, reprehensible and resistible by all counts…………………….., the unjustified decision of postal ballots and not allowing to vote where Kashmiri Pandits (KP’s) live must be reviewed and rescinded forthwith”.

Surprisingly, reports indicate that 850 candidates including women from Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) have applied for the party ticket to contest Municipal elections in the valley. According to party sources there is panel of 850 aspirants prepared by the district units who are ready to participate in the electoral process. The party has also prepared the list of its candidates of all 79 Municipal bodies in the state. The formal announcement is expected to be made in a day or two.

The report also suggests that BJP is likely to leave urban local bodies of north Kashmir for Peoples Conference led by Sajjad Lone.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Shaleen Kabra, has said the government had introduced the ‘Postal Ballot’ for displaced Kashmiri Pandits who were forced to leave the valley after the beginning of terrorism in 1990. Nearly half a million Pandit community members left their hearths and homes with the onset of armed struggle against the Indian state in Jammu and Kashmir.

Several socio- political groups advocating Pandit’s cause have equated the CEO’s announcement of using postal ballot to disenfranchisement of voters belonging to the community. They said the local bodies elections are linked to the local issues and problems. Those elected back in the valley with displaced Pandit votes are in no manner accountable to them.

KP’s are settled in several parts of the capital city for past 28 years had voted for Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and other Municipal Committees (MC) in 2005.

They (political groups) have been demanding authorities to allow Pandits to elect their representatives in exile. “This will give them a platform to voice their issues and fight for their rights,” they added.

Besides fulfilling several documentary formalities, the KP’s were subjected to a cumbersome exercise by using M Form etc before casting their votes. The postal ballot will be equally cumbersome and time consuming exercise, they fear.

This time their names have been deleted from Jammu voter list. Incidentally, they (KP’s) are the only voters in the country who vote for their candidates while living away from their native places without knowing about their representatives....
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