Srinagar, Dec 14: Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday criticized the Union government’s push for the “One Nation, One Election” initiative, saying it would undermine India’s federal structure.
The Union Cabinet has approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’’ Bills which would be tabled in the Parliament in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.
Speaking to reporters, Mehooba expressed concerns that the ‘One Nation, One Election’ policy could erode the democratic framework envisioned in the Constitution.
“India is a federal country with a federal structure. When you talk about ‘One Nation, One Election,’ you undermine that federal structure,” Mehbooba said, adding that the government is attempting to roll back the distribution of power achieved post-independence.
“Instead of moving forward to 2047, they are taking us backward, toward a dictatorship, which is very wrong,” she asserted.
She lamented that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is systematically weakening the Constitution, which upholds the country’s diversity and federalism.
Mehbooba also launched a scathing attack on the J&K ruling party National Conference, questioning its inability to deliver on promises despite having 50 MLAs.
“They have 50 seats (MLAs).. Now, if they don’t have the courage, what can I do?,” she asked.
Mehbooba referred to PDP previous alliance with Congress and later BJP.
“We had 16 MLAs( in 2002) when the BJP government was in Delhi. But we ran our own agendas. We ran our own agendas when we were 28( in 2014). The government that time was with the BJP. Today, even after 50, they (NC) are not able to do what they want to do. What can we do?,” Mehbooba said.
UNI
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