"Govt not giving concrete time for elections, creating confusion": JKNC leader Tanvir Sadiq

New Delhi [India], August 31 (ANI): After the Central government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it is ready for elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir any time now, Jammu Kashmir National Conference leader Tanvir Sadiq has said that the government is creating only confusion in the minds and hearts of people.
“As far as the election is concerned, we have asked for democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. We have asked that the democratic setup should take place as soon as possible. But even for that, the Solicitor General is confused. On the one hand, they say that the situation has improved. On the other hand, they are saying that they need a timeframe,” Tanvir Sadiq said to ANI.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Centre, told a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that the process of updation of the voters' list in Jammu and Kashmir is underway and it will take a month or so to complete.
“It has been close to around five years now since the Governor's Rule. Even now they are not able to tell us a concrete timeframe for elections. That shows the confusion they are creating in the minds and hearts of people. We are only interested in the restoration of Article 370. Yes, we want the elections. But now they have said that electoral rolls have to be revised. It’s delaying tactics and they are confusing people,” Tanvir Sadiq added.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Syed Suhail Bukhari on the matter has said “Election Commission of India has been working as an extension of BJP till now. It will be interesting to see what the Election Commission will do now that the Centre has said this in the Supreme Court. We hope justice will prevail and Supreme Court will give a judgement against this illegal act (abrogation of Art 370 & 35A in J&K)."
President of Apni Party, Altaf Bukhari said “It is a casual statement being issued by the Government of India for the past three years now. There is nothing new or serious in this statement. Elections can held after five years or five days, it is a wild guess.”
The Centre also said that it is unable to give a specific timeline for restoring the Statehood status of Jammu and Kashmir but clarified that Union Territory status is temporary.
“I am unable to give an exact time period for complete Statehood while saying Union Territory status is temporary,” the Solicitor General told the bench.
On the last date of the hearing, the top court while observing that “restoration is important” had asked the Centre to give a definite timeline for Statehood and elections in the region.
On the other hand, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for one of the petitioners against abrogation of Article 370, said that the government has 5,000 people under house arrest, section 144 imposed, the internet was shut off, and people could not go to hospitals even.
“Let us not make a mockery of democracy, and not talk about bandhs etc.,” he said.
CJI Chandrachud then clarified that it will deal with the legality of the abrogation of Article 370 on constitutional grounds and that facts relating to election or statehood won't affect that determination.
The Constitution bench is hearing a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories.
On August 5, 2019, the Central government announced the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir granted under Article 370 and split the region into two Union territories (ANI).