NC MPs to stay away from Delimitation Commission's first meeting on Feb 18

Masoodi terms whole exercise unconstitutional, Akbar Lone says busy with DDC elections for Chairperson

National Conference (NC) Members of Parliament (MPs) on Monday stated that they will not attend the first meeting of the Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir on February 18.

Pertinently, the Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir has convened first meeting with Associate Members at its office in New Delhi on February 18 to discuss delimitation of Assembly constituencies in the Union Territory.

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Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), NC MPs from South Kashmir’s Anantnag constituency Hassnain Masoodi and north Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency Muhammad Akbar Lone refused to attend the meeting.

However, both the Members of Parliament gave different reasons for not attending the first meeting.

Masoodi told KNO that they have not received any kind of intimation earlier, but it is for the first time that they have received any intimation in this regard.

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“Our stand is that this full exercise is unconstitutional because the commission has been constituted in exercise of powers under Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019. We are of the view that the act itself is unconstitutional and its constitutionality is being examined by the five judge bench of the Supreme Court. The Central government was expected to desist from implementing the act till a final verdict would come from the top court of India,” he said.

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“It instead is going on to implement the act, which is constitutionally suspect law. We have already thrown a challenge to that. As on date, there is no point in getting associated because the exercise itself is not in tune with the constitution as it offends the constitution,” Masoodi said.Moreover, Lone, another NC MP also rejected to attend the meeting, saying that they are currently busy with the ongoing elections for the chairperson of District Development Council (DDC)—(KNO)

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