Jammu, October 12 : Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on moral grounds, alleging that questions raised over electoral transparency had eroded public confidence in the Election Commission of India.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Choudhary also condemned the handling of protests in Delhi, alleging that young protesters, including women, were being subjected to high-handedness by police and security personnel. He urged the Centre to engage with the protesters and address their concerns through dialogue rather than force.
“On moral grounds, Gyanesh Kumar should have resigned. When two out of the three members are speaking against him, I think he should have resigned, as this has always been the tradition of the country,” Choudhary said.
He said the protests reflected concerns over the transparency of electoral processes and the functioning of democratic institutions, arguing that the government should listen to the younger generation rather than suppress their voices.
“These children want the protection of the Constitution framed by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. They want transparency. They are not making any big demand,” he said, appealing to the Centre to hear their grievances and clear their doubts.
Referring to the detention of protesters in Delhi, Choudhary said the manner in which young men and women were being dealt with was contrary to the democratic traditions of the country. He alleged that women protesters were being mistreated and questioned the conduct of those involved in handling the demonstrations.
“I condemn the way the protesters are being treated in Delhi. This is the country of Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. What is happening, and in which direction are we heading?” he said.
Choudhary said the right to speak and express dissent was guaranteed by the Constitution and maintained that grievances should be addressed through negotiations.
He also called upon the media to uphold its responsibility as the fourth pillar of democracy and report issues concerning democratic institutions and electoral transparency.
“You people have a very big role, and you will have to play your role. You will have to tell the truth,” he said.
Referring to allegations concerning electoral rolls and voting processes, Choudhary said people were questioning whether their votes were being properly reflected in the electoral system. He referred to concerns raised by opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, and said doubts surrounding voter lists and electoral transparency needed to be addressed.
He said the Election Commission had a responsibility to maintain public confidence in the electoral process and urged the relevant authorities to respond to the concerns being raised.
Choudhary also referred to the Supreme Court and the President of India as important constitutional institutions that could play a role in safeguarding the Constitution.
He said democratic institutions must ensure that citizens’ rights were protected.
On the damage caused by heavy rainfall and flooding in Jammu, Choudhary said the government would assess the losses and take steps to restore damaged roads, drains, streets and culverts.
He said the rainfall on Sunday had caused damage in several localities, including Talab Tillo and adjoining areas, while a young girl had reportedly been swept away in floodwaters. He said he did not have the latest information about whether she had been traced.
“The government will try to restore the damage suffered by people as soon as possible. Roads, drains and culverts that have been damaged will be repaired,” he said.
Choudhary said the administration was collecting reports from the divisional administration and the Jammu Municipal Corporation to assess the extent of the damage and initiate restoration work.
He said the government would work to ensure that affected areas were restored as quickly as possible.
At the outset of the press conference, Choudhary expressed grief over the demise of former Jammu and Kashmir minister Sardar Harbans Singh, describing his death as a major loss for Jammu province and the Sikh community.
He said Singh was a respected leader of the National Conference and had earned recognition through his work and public life.
“His departure has caused a great loss to Jammu and Kashmir, especially Jammu province and the Sikh community, which can never be fulfilled,” he said.
Choudhary offered condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for strength for them to bear the loss. He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was also travelling to Jammu and would attend Singh’s funeral.
On the demand for Punjabi to be recognised as an official language in Jammu and Kashmir, Choudhary said the demand was genuine and that the government was considering measures to promote the language, including the recruitment of Punjabi teachers.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah had maintained close relations with the Sikh community and had supported its concerns.
“The demand is very genuine. The government is working on it, and we are also thinking about how to recruit Punjabi teachers and keep the language alive,” he said.
Choudhary acknowledged that the process could take time but rejected suggestions that the government was deliberately delaying the matter. He said efforts were being made to address the concerns raised by Sikh community representatives.
During an exchange with a journalist over the delay in fulfilling the commitment regarding Punjabi, Choudhary said he was willing to answer questions but objected to the manner in which the discussion was being conducted.
He reiterated that the demand deserved consideration and said the government was looking at ways to move forward on the issue.(KNS)
