Sunday, September 26: As political parties in Jammu and Kashmir prepare for ULB and Panchayat elections, security agencies have raised concerns with higher authorities in New Delhi about a large plot being plotted across the LoC to target political activists in Kashmir during ULB and Panchayat elections.
Due to these apprehensions, it would be impossible for the government to proceed with ULB and Panchayat elections, and it is likely that ULB and Panchayat elections will be postponed. The chances of holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024 are also very low, and only parliamentary elections will be held in J&K in 2024.
New Delhi has taken note of the recent militant attacks in Rajouri, Poonch, and Kokernag with grave concern. “Pakistani militants may target innocent Kashmiris during elections, so it was decided that there will be no ULB and Assembly elections in J&K until Parliamentary elections are held in 2024,” he told KNS, adding, “New Delhi believes human lives are more important than elections.”
“Although there is currently no local support for terrorists in Kashmir, Pakistani (foreign) terrorists are conspiring to target innocent people and may attack Kashmiris in large numbers during ULB and Assembly elections,” a senior intelligence officer was quoted as saying during a meeting by a top BJP leader.
According to him, the lives of Kashmiris are far more essential than elections, and the government’s top priority is to eradicate terrorism from Kashmir. “The government cannot abandon the Kashmiri people to the terrorists. “The government’s top priority is ensuring the safety and security of the people of J&K,” he said.
He added, however, that the J&K BJP Unit is fully prepared for all forms of elections, including ULB, Panchayat, Assembly, and Parliamentary elections, but that the security and safety of the people are more essential than conducting elections.
However, according to sources, Chief Election Commissioner B.R. Sharma and Chief Electoral Officer J&K Pandurang K. Pole will make the ultimate decision on whether or not to conduct elections in the UT after consulting with security agencies.
Notably, it was reported a few days ago that the Central Government is of the opinion that ULB elections should be postponed and likely held after the April–May 2024 Parliamentary elections.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a high-level meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir BJP’s core group at his residence in New Delhi on Monday to assess the ground situation and party functioning ahead of the local body polls in the Union Territory and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Sources also told KNS that the meeting was attended by BJP National President JP Nadda, J&K incharge Tarun Chugh, BJP J&K President Ravinder Raina, former Deputy Chief Ministers of J&K Dr. Nirmal Singh, Kavinder Gupta, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Devender Singh Rana, Ashok Koul, Dr. Devender Manyal, Jugal Kishore Sharma (MP Jammu), Vibdoh Gupta, Sunil Sharma, and Sat Pal Sharma.
