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EC simplifies voting process for Kashmiri Pandits

The Election Commission has simplified the process of ballot voting for Kashmiri Pandits living in New Delhi.

The Commission said special forms (form 12 c) for applying for postal ballot could be obtained from the office of either the Jammu and Kashmir resident commissioner or the Tis Hazari additional district magistrate.

The precondition of counter signature by the head or any senior member of the family, as was required during the last election, has been dispensed with. The forms would, however, have to be attested by a gazetted officer.

The Commission has advised Pandits to send the filled application forms for ballot paper to the assistant returning officer concerned at Jammu before February 18 for the Srinagar constituency, and before February 24 for the Anantnag and Baramulla constituencies. Election will be held in Srinagar on February 28. Anantnag and Baramulla go to the polls on March 7.

Special letter boxes will be made available at various centres for posting the ballot papers. The electoral rolls for the three constituencies are displayed at the Tis Hazari additional district magistrate's office.

Meanwhile, the Panun Kashmir Movement, an organisation of Pandits, has criticised various political parties for the 'lukewarm attitude' shown towards the community's problem in their manifestos. It, however, expressed 'gratitude to the Hindutva forces for helping the community after its migration from the valley.'

Reiterating their stand on the community's return to the valley, PKM convenor Ashwini Jumar rejected the proposals put forward by the BJP in its manifesto. He said no package sans constitutional and political dispensation was acceptable to them.

The Pandits had last month threatened to boycott the election in protest against the massacre of 23 Pandits in Wandhama on January 25. They said they had lost all faith in democratic process as the incident took place on the Republic day eve.

UNI

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