Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], October 1 : As voting for the third phase of elections got underway in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the enthusiastic participation of people in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls reflects a celebration of democracy and the "true mainstreaming" of democracy in the Union territory.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh and his family members cast their vote at a polling booth in Bahu Assembly Constituency for the third and final phase of polling for J&K Assembly Elections 2024.
Jitendra Singh said, "I would say that for the first time after many years, such a large number of voters are coming out to vote in Jammu and Kashmir. This is a celebration of democracy. In the garb of Article 370 the ruling parties here ran the Vidhan Sabha for 6 years compared to 5 years in other states. During emergency then PM Indira Gandhi has brought an amendment under which Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha were extended to 6 years. The NC immediately accepted it. When Morarji Desai became PM the amendment was repealed but NC did not allow it to be enforced under Article 370. Grassroots democracy has been brought in the last 10 years."
He further asserted that in the elections, the democracy of Jammu and Kashmir is seen joining the mainstream of India.
"First of all, you have to understand that such elections are being held for the first time in the last 30-35 years where there was no strike call from Pakistan, nor was there any boycott call, nor was there 8-10 per cent voting like before. That is why I said that in true sense, the democracy of Jammu and Kashmir is being seen joining the mainstream of India," he added.
He further said, "All these refugees who came from Pakistan were not very favourably disposed towards the Congress party. They always held the Congress party responsible for the partition. So when they settled here, they were denied voting rights and even citizenship rights under the guise of Article 370 and 35A. The irony is that this very section of the society gave India two Prime Ministers, Dr Manmohan Singh and IK Gujral. Article 370 never helped the common man. If you ask the common man in the streets of Srinagar or Kashmir, they will also approve the abrogation of Article 370. BJP will blossom everywhere."
The polling for the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections started here at 7 am today with 40 constituencies going to the polls. Among the 40 constituencies, 24 are in the Jammu division and the rest in the Kashmir Valley.