SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Awami League announced boycott of the proposed Assembly elections in the state. League said, before holding the elections the Center should set up a commission headed by a Supreme Court judge to inquire into the acts of “omission and commission” of all successive ruling party leaders. “The Center should unveil the scams and hawala scandals in which the political leaders and bureaucrats are involved and handcuff them so that people can see a ray of democracy in the state.” G.N. Mir alias Nayazi, general secretary of the organization, recently formed after merger of J and K Awami Conference with J and K Awami League, said here. Nayazi also said that the issues confronting the people of the state cannot be solved by holding a “plebiscite or Kashmir’s accession with Pakistan or grant of autonomy to the state but by restoration of democratic rights to the people. He said restoration of 1948 or 1952 position to the state was “frivolous.” What is needed is to restore democratic rights to the people and provide them with better facilities including essential commodities at their doorstep, Nayazi said. Nayazi said neither they will take part in the Assembly elections nor will his party support any political party in the elections.
However, he said, they will reconsider their decision if Center set up a commission to probe the allegations of misappropriation of Central funds by the successive ruling party leaders and bureaucrats since 1947. Asked why his party is boycotting the elections, Nayazi, said, “We had a bad experience as the recent parliamentary elections were not held in a free and fair manner, Giving background of the formation of J and K Awami League and J and K Awami Conference, Nayazi said, “These two parties did the work of a candle in the darkness” and after long deliberations agreed to form a single party.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 31, 1996
