Election boycott has disempowered Srinagar: PDP leader

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 12

Ahead of the polls in the summer capital, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MP Tariq Hameed Karra today said the ‘boycott’ politics has not only disempowered Srinagar, but it has emerged a tool for mainstream parties such as the National Conference (NC) and some politicians to manipulate election results.

The campaigning for the eight Assembly segments in Srinagar ended on Friday.

Addressing election meetings on the last day of campaigning in Srinagar, Karra said Srinagar had remained aloof from democratic processes, resulting in development deficit in the city. It had also ensured systemic political disempowerment of inhabitants of Srinagar.

“But this time around, a poll boycott is loaded with bigger political dangers looming not only over Srinagar, but whole of Kashmir as the BJP and its proxies are going to use it as a tool for tactical rigging in their favour,” he said.

He said ironically if such a scenario emerges after the polls, the separatists would be seen as contributors in forming a BJP government in the state.

“I leave it to the conscience of the separatists and the wisdom of Srinagar voters to see through the designs of New Delhi’s proxies and cronies who tried to use ‘boycott’ politics as a tool to manipulate poll results in various parts of Kashmir,” Karra said.

“This time, NC cadres and supporters of some fringe politicians were caught red-handed pasting boycott posters in Pattan, Langate, Tangmarg and other constituencies to browbeat the voters,” he said.

“It is for the separatists to decide who is benefiting from such politics and why," the PDP leader said.