NC welcomes SC move over relaxation of poll code in J&K

The ruling National Conference (NC) today welcomed the Supreme Court's move over relaxation of the Model Code of Conduct in poll-bound Jammu & Kashmir to remove any hindrance in government's relief and rehabilitation work, saying it vindicated the party's stand.
"NC welcomes the move of the Supreme Court to send notice to the Election Commission on the issue of relaxing the Model Code of Conduct regulations as and where such regulations would affect the flood rehabilitation," party spokesman Junaid Mattu said.
A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu had yesterday favoured relaxation of the model code for flood relief, and asked the Election Commission to respond to the issues.

Mattu said the party had appealed to the EC a few days ago about the need to relax the regulations that were believed to be affecting the rehabilitation work.
"The SC observations vindicated the stand taken by NC in voicing apprehensions about the possible debilitating effects of the electoral process on the flood rehabilitation process. The move is a clear vindication of our stand," he said.
The spokesman said the party urges the EC to ensure that the pace and scale of the rehabilitation process is resumed so that the flood victims do not suffer due to the elections.

Mattu said post the SC move it is time for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to introspect and tender a public apology to the people of the state for playing a "pivotal role" in possibly bringing the flood rehabilitation to a "standstill".

"PDP and other parties that pleaded for elections at such a tragic time should introspect and realise that they stand exposed. Their desperation for their own political welfare and political rehabilitation even during the darkest hours of a tremendous natural calamity in the state is self-explanatory," he said.
The spokesman said the NC is proud to have put people before politics in by taking the stand, and added that they would "expose" PDP's "brutal and ruthless role" in front of the voters.