NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has said that the Indian government is scuttling electoral democracy in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and is continuing its efforts to disempower the Muslim majority population in the territory.
The latest editorial of the party’s mouthpiece, People’s Democracy, criticised the announcement of the Chief Electoral Officer of IIOJK on August 16 that around 25 lakh voters, including outsiders, are likely to be added after the special summary revision of the electoral rolls being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370.
“Three years after the virtual abrogation of Article 370 and nullificationof the special status on August 5, 2019, the Modi government is continuing its efforts to reorder the electoral system in Jammu and Kashmir to suit its interests by disempowering the Muslim majority population,” it said.
“In fact, the addition of around 25 lakh voters to the 76 lakh registered voters would alter in a major way the electoral balance in favour of the BJP and bring about a demographic change,” it added.
“This latest measure on giving voting rights to non-permanent residents is part of the overall plan to reduce the weightage of the Muslim population in the Valley and in the Jammu region for the purpose of representation in the future assembly. All the political parties, except the BJP, have rejected this inclusion of non-locals in the electoral list,” it said.
The CPI-M also claimed the changes in the electoral rolls are designed to help the BJP secure a big majority in the Jammu region and to form a government with the help of some splinter groups of smaller parties who have emerged in the Valley.
“All these preparations for holding an assembly election are being undertaken with no assurance that statehood will be first granted to Jammu and Kashmir. Further, all these measures are being pushed through when the Reorganisation Act of 2019 has been challenged in the Indian Supreme Court and the matter is pending there,” it said.
It also said that the last three years have seen an unprecedented attack on democracy and democratic rights of citizens in IIOJK.
KASHMIRI BUSINESSMAN ARRESTED AT DELHI AIRPORT
The Indian agency arrested a Kashmiri businessman at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
Indian State Investigation Agency (SIA) arrested one Farooq Ahmed Naikoo after he reached Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Farooq Ahmed Naikoo, whose father was martyred in custody by Indian troops in the 80s in Baramulla town, was a decade ago also arrested on a fake case by Indian agency under black law in Mumbai.
The victim was doing a business come job in the UAE for a long time.
On the other hand, the Indian State Investigation Agency (SIA), Jammu unit, filed a fake charge sheet in Jammu court against Abdul Rashid and martyred Sartaz Ahmed for recruiting youths for ongoing freedom struggle under the black law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Sartaz Ahmed was martyred by Indian troops in 2009.
Meanwhile, the High Court of the territory has upheld the detention and dismissed the petitions of Syed Mohammad Azhar Amin Shah and Rayees Ahmad Butt. The both victims are facing illegal detention under black law, Public Safety Act.
