Srinagar, Sep 23, KNT: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday called for corrective action by the Election Commission and the Government of India following an investigation by The Indian Express into reported differences within the poll panel, saying that any erosion of public trust in elections could affect participation in the democratic process.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said the investigation had raised several questions about the functioning of the Election Commission and recalled concerns raised in Jammu and Kashmir over the delimitation exercise.
He said complaints regarding the functioning of the Election Commission had existed before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) became a national issue and alleged that the delimitation process in Jammu and Kashmir had been opaque and flawed.
Referring to the reported differences among Election Commission members, Abdullah said the developments required examination and corrective measures.
“If people’s trust in elections is lost, then what is left in a democracy? The foundation of a democracy is elections,” he said, adding that the Election Commission and the Government of India should consider the issue.
Abdullah also referred to cases in which people whose names had been removed from electoral rolls were allegedly denied passports, questioning the basis for such action and saying the government would have to see what corrective measures were taken.
On the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly amid disruptions, Abdullah said legislative business was continuing and that questions had been raised and answered in the House.
He said members of the BJP had also participated in discussions and raised issues in the Assembly, while referring to the discussion on teacher training and the Teacher Eligibility Test initiated by Education Minister Sakina Itoo.
Abdullah said the discussion would continue and more resolutions would come before the House.
Asked about the withdrawal of thousands of books from educational institutions and the question of banning books in a democracy, Abdullah said the issue raised a broader question about the scope of such restrictions.
“I have my own views on whether books should be banned or not,” he said, adding that the elected government did not currently have the authority to decide such matters.
He said the government would have to wait for the situation to change before taking a fresh look at the issue.
The Jammu and Kashmir government informed the Assembly this week that 4,249 books had been withdrawn from circulation after more than 21.8 lakh books and publications were examined, while 1,752 books had been referred for expert examination. [KNT]
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