Srinagar
Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday urged the boycott of the upcoming elections, describing them as an “exercise in futility”.
“Holding elections, whether panchayat or parliamentary, has no value. It is an exercise in futility as the essence of this process lies first in the establishment of democratic principles and institutions,” Mirwaiz said while addressing a gathering of worshippers at the Jamia Masjid here.
The separatist leader said the democratic institutions in the region had not been allowed to flourish. “Instead, the reverse has taken place through the use of extreme force and authoritarianism. Any electoral process in such a place becomes a mere eyewash,” he said.