NEW DELHI, February 7: The ruling National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir has moved the Supreme Court against the Election Commission's decision to hold polls in Anantnag, Baramulla and Udhampur constituencies on March 7. It has argued that this would influence voters as counting of votes in other states and Union territories would have begun on March 2.A writ petition, filed by NC spokesman and Union Minister Saifuddin Soz, has prayed for directions to the Commission to advance the polling date in the three constituencies to March 2 or earlier. Or alternatively, start counting of votes across the country from March 8, as scheduled earlier.
The petition, filed yesterday, is yet to come up for hearing.
It has been submitted that polling in the three constituencies on March 7 would adversely affect and prejudice the right of voters to exercise their franchise in an "uninfluenced and free manner" as poll results in the entire country would be out latest by March 5.
Speaking to The IndianExpress, Soz said that the petition has been filed as a "precautionary measure" as the EC has not yet decided on the issue. Soz said that he wrote to Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill on this issue on January 29 and the core committee of the United Front passed a resolution on January 31, requesting the Commission to fix the poll schedule in a manner in which elections in J&K were not "isolated" from the rest of the country. "We don't want a wrong signal to go either nationally or internationally," Soz said.
Soz submitted that the Commission had already issued directions regarding opinion and exit poll surveys in a bid to ensure free and fair polls.
While Jammu will go to polls on February 16, elections would be held in Srinagar and Ladakh constituencies on February 28.
Counting of votes for Jammu, Srinagar and Ladakh will begin on March 8 and those for Anantnag, Baramulla and Udhampur on March 9.
Hurriyat cries foul
With the NC withdrawing his police guards, Hurriyat leader SayedAli Shah Geelani has accused the government of conspiring to ``liquidate Kashmiri separatist leaders''. Guards and bunkers -- put after rocket attacks two years ago -- have also been removed from Abdul Gani Lone's house in Srinagar.Police sources say security has been withdrawn because these leaders preach ``secession''.
Security cover continues for Hurriyat chairman Mirwiaz Moulvi Omer Farooq, in view of his ``vulnerability''. He was provided security after militants killed his father in 1990.Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
