Srinagar, May 10
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Srinagar Parliament constituency Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra has submitted his reply to the notice served to him for making a statement that “this election should not be treated less than a referendum.”
Parra has submitted his reply to the Nodal Officer Model Code of Conduct (MCC) Srinagar and stated that the reference to the aspect that the ‘ensuing election is no less than a referendum; only points towards the importance the present election holds and nothing else. “Any other inference drawn by any person is not the intention of the undersigned and as such cannot be attributed to the undersigned (Parra),” the reply reads.
As already reported, the District election authorities Srinagar issued a notice to Parra over his statement that “youth should not treat this election less than a referendum”.
As per the notice issued by nodal officer MCC Srinagar, Waheed Parra was asked to explain his statement urging Kashmir’s youngsters “to consider the general elections as a referendum” and asked him that being one of the candidates for Srinagar Parliament constituency, he has to adhere to the proper procedure in terms of general conduct as well.
Parra has stated that the other statement made and reproduced in the reply particularly pertaining to ‘peoples silence’ or the fact that ‘people of Kashmir are not happy with New Delhi’ are purely electoral issues that the undersigned being a contesting candidate seeking the mandate of people is lawfully entitled to agitate and the same by no stretch of imagination can be construed to be a violation of the MCC.
Parra has stated that the statement pertaining to the fact that youth are languishing in jail and children are caught in drug addiction, represents ‘the problem of Kashmir’ and the same is yet again a pressing electoral issue that the undersigned is within his rights to agitate under the rights guaranteed by Constitution of India as well as the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951.
“It is further brought to your attention that any misgivings with respect to the statements as reproduced in the notice under reply are completely clarified by the fact that the undersigned in the same statement has expressly stated that he wants the issues raised to be addressed by the Parliament of India,” the reply reads.
Parra stated that holistically and contextually, no part of the statement as reproduced in the notice, amounts to violation of the MCC Guidelines, particularly to the guidelines that pertain to any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes, communities or religious or linguistic groups.
“It is reiterated that the inference and suggestion mentioned in the notice under reply is based on unwarranted conjectures and surmises. And, are thus denied. The notice under reference is replied accordingly and the same shall suffice,” the reply reads.
