Cooperate with Delimitation Comm for early assembly polls: LG to parties

Jammu: Without naming any political party, the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that political parties should cooperate in the completion of the delimitation exercise if they want early elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Those who want early assembly elections in J-K are requested to help and cooperate with the delimitation commission, instead of making excuses," Sinha told reporters at sideline of a function.

He was asked about the demand raised by the PDP and the NC for holding early assembly polls.

The Delimitation Commission met on Thursday to seek suggestions from the associate members on the process of delimitation of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Associate members are lawmakers from their respective states who assist the delimitation panel in redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies.

However, National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi skipped the meeting.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had said the Centre was "railroading" delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir with a "tearing hurry" that raised serious apprehensions about the motives of the exercise.

Asked as to when the polls could be held in J-K, the Lieutenant Governor said the Election Commission will decide on it once the delimitation exercise is completed.

"There are constitutional institutions in India. The decision is taken by the Election Commission. Let the work related to delimitation get completed, the Commission will definitely conduct elections," he said.

On some politicians "boycotting" the proceedings of the Delimitation Commission, the LG said they must understand that if they want early polls, the delimitation process has to be first completed.

The LG said that "the prime minister has assured the entire nation (on holding polls) and you have seen reports in newspapers that the Delimitation Commission has begun its work".

Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory with provisions for a legislature. At present, it is under central rule.

Replying to queries on NC and PDP leaders calling for dialogue between India and Pakistan, the LG said India is capable of solving its problems.

"I don't want to react to someone's statement. The Ministry of External Affairs assesses this. India is capable of solving its own problems," Sinha said.

He also condemned the recent attacks on policemen by terrorists and said that terrorism won't be allowed to grow at any cost.

Meanwhile, Asserting that Agriculture sector will get more share of the Jammu and Kashmir’s budget component in future, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Monday said that a unique Sustainable Agriculture Plan has been developed in the Union Territory, which currently caters to all developmental needs without compromising future potential.

Speaking at the Horti-Expo 2021 here at Police Auditorium, Gulshan ground, the Lt Governor observed that revolutionary changes are taking place in the agriculture and horticulture sectors in J&K.

“The promotion of local produce and taking it to the global market is one of the key focus areas of J&K Government and the Government is making continuous efforts to increase the resources and market linkages to further strengthen the horticulture sector,” he expressed and added that the UT Government would continue striving hard to provide the best and advanced technologies to farmers. Welfare of the farmer community and increasing their income manifold is the priority of the Government.

“I assure farmers that Mandis are very much here to stay. In fact, they are getting strengthened and modernized. People should not spread false information and mislead the farmers”, said the Lt Governor and added that the government is also setting up Farmers Producers Organizations in all the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the next three months to strengthen business activities related to agriculture and horticulture.

For the convenience of the farmers, he said that free thresher is being provided in every panchayat of the UT while road Tax on Tractors up to 3000 CC capacity has also been exempted and no tax will be paid on power tillers.

Underscoring the interventions being made by the Government for progress and growth of agriculture and horticulture sectors, the Lt Governor observed, “in the last few years, under the able guidance of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and because of the hard work of our farmers, agricultural scientists, and the policies adopted by the Horticulture Department, J&K is getting distinct recognition in the world scenario.”

Central Government and UT Administration are constantly making efforts and taking decisions so that not only Farmers’ produce sees huge growth and gets three times the price, but can also receive greater handholding and end to end solutions, the Lt Governor observed.

Reiterating Government’s commitment for exploring all the possibilities for giving a further push to the development of priority sectors like agriculture and horticulture, the Lt Governor recalled the recently held NITI Aayog meeting in which he had requested the Prime Minister to provide the facility of dry port and international flights to Jammu and Kashmir so that products, including those related to agriculture and horticulture could be exported directly.
The Lt Governor also recounted the innovative measures taken by the government to boost the horticulture produce in the UT.