# India

J-K has always preferred ballot over bullet: Mehbooba

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday announced that panchayat elections will be held from 15 February. After discussion the issue…

Statesman News Service | Jammu | December 26, 2017 11:15 pm

J-K has always preferred ballot over bullet: Mehbooba

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday announced that panchayat elections will be held from 15 February.

After discussion the issue with the Governor NN Vohra on Monday CM called on him in the Raj Bhavan here.

Mehbooba tweeted early this morning; “I’m very pleased to announce that the long overdue Panchayat elections in J&K will be held from 15 February 2018. People in the state have always chosen ballots over bullets & will continue to do so”.

The panchayat elections were overdue for the past few years and were being postponed due to bad security situation.

The Centre and also the Governor have been mounting pressure on Mehooba to hold the panchayat and other local bodies elections early. Vohra in the meeting with Mehbooba expressed his concern about the vital importance of ensuring prompt redressal of public grievances.Vohra was also concerned for the entire administrative system to function in a truly transparent and accountable manner, to promote public welfare.

During the meeting, CM informed the governor about several important matters in regard to which the Cabinet had taken decisions a few days back. She also informed about her government’s decision to commence Panchayat elections from 15 February 2018.

Meanwhile, the J&K Panchayat Conference has demanded implementation of 73rd amendment before the Panchayat elections in the state.

# India

Mehbooba slams NC’s silence on restoration of Article 370

Slamming the ruling National Conference (NC), Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday criticized the NC for its inaction on key issues, despite holding a significant number of seats, and asserted that the PDP would take the lead in fighting for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, statehood, and release of political prisoners.

# India

‘Erosion’ of constitutional values extremely concerning: Mehbooba Mufti

While Constitution Day was celebrated on Tuesday across the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, People's Conference leader Mehbooba Mufti said that the erosion of constitutional values and rule of law is extremely concerning.

# India

Mehbooba lauds PDP MLAs for effectively raising demand for restoration of Article 370

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday commended the role of the party's three MLAs for effectively raising the demand for restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and articulating public sentiments in the recently held first session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.