KISHTWAR, Oct 12: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference senior leader and Chenab Valley regional spokesperson Ajeet Bhagat has strongly condemned the reported detention of leaders, workers, women and other people associated with the Cockroach Janata Party, calling for an immediate investigation into the matter and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on moral grounds.
Bhagat alleged that the detention of political leaders and protesters raised serious concerns about democratic freedoms and the right of citizens to express their views peacefully. He criticised the reported attempts to prevent people from reaching the protest site and said such actions required scrutiny to ensure that democratic rights were protected.
Demanding transparency and accountability in the electoral process, the National Conference leader called for an impartial investigation into the allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner. He said appropriate action should be taken based on the findings and maintained that accountability was essential to preserving public confidence in democratic institutions.
Bhagat said the reported detention of party leaders, workers, women and other participants was unjustified and urged the authorities to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. He stressed that citizens must be allowed to exercise their democratic rights peacefully and that any allegations concerning the functioning of constitutional institutions should be addressed through a transparent process.
He further asserted that the Chief Election Commissioner should consider resigning on moral grounds in view of the allegations raised against him. According to Bhagat, protecting the credibility of the electoral system and maintaining public trust were essential for strengthening democracy.
The National Conference leader also criticised the Central Government over what he described as inadequate attention to the problem of unemployment among educated youth. He said young people across the country were struggling to find suitable employment and were travelling from one place to another in search of job opportunities.
Bhagat urged the government to prioritise employment generation and introduce effective measures to address the concerns of unemployed youth instead of focusing on political speeches and promises. He emphasised that concrete action was needed to provide young people with meaningful livelihood opportunities and a secure future.
He maintained that democratic accountability, protection of citizens’ rights and attention to pressing public issues, particularly unemployment, were essential for strengthening public confidence in governance and democratic institutions.