People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti alleged on Sunday that the Election Commission changed the date for counting votes in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“They (the Election Commission) do what suits the BJP. When I contested the (Lok Sabha) elections, they unnecessarily changed the date (of polling). Everything is done as per the wishes of the BJP and its proxy parties,” Mufti told reporters in Srinagar.
The Election Commission announced on Saturday that the counting of votes for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls would be held on October 8, instead of October 4. This change follows the EC’s decision to reschedule polling in Haryana from October 1 to October 5 due to a festival.
Elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases, starting September 18. The second and third phase will be held on September 25 and October 1 respectively.
Commenting on the transfer of senior police officers for the elections, Mufti expressed satisfaction that all officers are locals and hoped they would contribute to a free, fair, and impartial election process. She recalled the 1987 elections, which were marred by malpractices and bloodshed, and urged that the current election staff ensure fairness.
Mufti also criticised recent amendments to the Wakf properties act, claiming it aims to dispossess Muslims.
“Wakf means donating something in the way of Allah. Earlier, the courts would adjudicate in case of dispute, now a magistrate has been given the powers. The magistrate will do what he is told to,” she said.
Further, she also described the curtailing of the Namaz break in the Assam Assembly as a “cheap act” intended to communalise the situation.
“The Muslim assembly members from Assam have not spoken about it and you expect us to make noise from here. Having said that, it is a cheap act to communalise the situation,” she added.