Vol. XLI No. 16 April 16, 2017
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Srinagar Bye Election

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on April 10, 2017
 
THE miserably low turnout in the bye elections to the Srinagar parliamentary seat in the state of Jammu & Kashmir reduces the electoral process to a total farce. Further, it displays the deep degree of alienation of the people in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The 7.14 percent turn-out in these elections is the lowest ever recorded in any Lok Sabha polls in the state.

The issue of our country’s internal security and sovereignty is non-negotiable. This can only be strengthened by the involvement of the people. This in turn can only happen through a political process which as was agreed to by this BJP government and announced by the home minister after the all party parliamentary delegation visited the state. This process was to be through both confidence building measures and the initiatives for a comprehensive political dialogue with all stakeholders.

Though promised, this was never followed up till date by the central government. This is contributing to the further alienation of the people
of the state. Unless this is done both our security personnel and innocent civilians will continue to pay the price with their lives.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) calls upon the central government to immediately implement the assurance that the central government itself gave to the country and the people and begin taking confidence building measures and start the political process.