JRL calls for boycott of Panchayat elections

Srinagar : Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) on Thursday called for a boycott of upcoming panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir, saying these elections were “meant to harm the national interests of Kashmiri people”.
“Any sort of election under Indian occupational system, be it for so-called assembly, parliament, municipal committee or Panchayat is meant only to harm the national interests of Kashmiris. We cannot vote and hence strengthen the hands of those tyrants who separated innocent kids Maryam and Azra from their mothers and are forcing us to bury mutilated bodies of our kith and kin,” said a statement, issued by the JRL.
JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin appealed to the people of Kashmir to boycott “Panchayat election drama announced by so-called rulers.”
While appealing for a complete and comprehensive boycott of these so-called elections, especially the recently announced Panchayat elections, JRL leaders said that elections and institutions formed by these elections are detrimental to the interests of Kashmiris and as a living nation we all should keep away from this farce and boycott these elections in totality.
Last week, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti told Governor N N Vohra that her government has decided to hold Panchayat elections in the state on February 15, 2018.