Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 26: Panun Kashmir today said the election campaigning which is being witnessed at present is brazenly separatist and communal in content undermining the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.
Talking to reporters here, today, PK chairman, Dr Ajay Chrungoo said “Having experienced the conversion of democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir into a process of denial of genocide of Kashmiri Pandits leading an exiled life for the last 35 years, we are now witness to election campaigning which is brazenly separatist and communal in content”.
“We are surprised how the Election Commission of India has allowed separatists to participate in the elections for the forthcoming Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” ?asked Chrungoo.
He said ” We are also aghast at how the EC allowed the participants to eulogize terrorists like Burhan Wani and Afzal Guru and use derogatory nomenclature like Kohimaran for civilisational revered places in Kashmir”.
Chrungoo said the ECI is Constitutionally obligated to ensure free and fair as well as peaceful elections across the country including Jammu and Kashmir, where the political and security situation is extremely sensitive.
He said given the well established legal framework that prohibits hate speech, incitement of violence, glorification of terrorism as well as any affront to the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the nation of India we are baffled to see that ECI is closing its eyes and ears while a seditious communal electoral campaign is being lead by many participants.
The ECI knows very well that free speech is not an absolute right and is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) which included limitations on speech that can be detrimental to the sovereignty and Integrity of India, public order, decency or morality.
PK warned GoI and the ECI about the dangers of conducting elections wherein the Constitution of India is violated every now and then.
Chrungoo said this type of situation invariably leads to use of democratic space by forces to destroy democracy and freedom from within.
The Preamble of the Constitution of India guarantees sovereignty, integrity and unity of the nation of India. Can the election process be allowed to relapse into an internal assault of the very integrity, sovereignty and unity of India,? He asked.
He appealed to ECI to monitor and scan the electoral campaign going on in J&K and immediately bar all those candidates and parties who violate the integrity, sovereignty and Unity of nation as well as spirit of secularism and brotherhood.
Any leniency in this matter will irreparably damage the democratic order, he added.
Besides Chrungoo PK general secretary, Kuldeep Raina, senior leaders Daya Krishan, Raj Nath Raina, Satish Sher and Pran Koul were present in press conference
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