J&K Poll Body Raps PDP’s Parra Over ‘Referendum’ Remark

Srinagar, May 8:  Waheed Parra, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Srinagar parliamentary seat, has been issued a notice by the Jammu and Kashmir poll body over his remarks urging Kashmiri youth to treat the general elections as a “referendum” against New Delhi’s decisions after August 2019.The notice from the nodal officer for the Model Code of Conduct gave Para two days to explain his statement and refrain from making utterances that could “aggravate differences among communities.” It warned that non-compliance would invite legal action.
“This act of yours has the potential of aggravating the differences among communities and can cause discontentment in the society,” the notice stated, referring to Para’s appeal to consider the polls a “referendum” to send a message of “dissatisfaction” to New Delhi.

However, Parra clarified that he owed allegiance to the Constitution and wanted people to vote in large numbers for democracy to flourish. “By using the word ‘referendum’, I wanted to ask people to come out to vote so that the dream of democracy could flourish,” he said.
The poll body cited the Model Code guidelines which prohibit any activity that may exacerbate existing differences or create hatred between different castes, communities, religions or linguistic groups.
Parra, who also heads the PDP’s youth wing, had urged Kashmiri youth to use their votes to convey their unhappiness over New Delhi’s decisions after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019. He claimed the youth’s future was uncertain.
The remarks had stoked controversy, prompting the election authorities to issue the notice seeking an explanation from the PDP candidate within the stipulated timeframe.