Child Rights Body Seeks Action Against Mehbooba Mufti Over Alleged Use of School-going Children for Election Campaigning

Alfaaz – The Words Desk

Srinagar: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Friday wrote to Election Commission of India to seek appropriate action against Peoples Democratic Party Anantnag-Rajouri segment candidate Mehbooba Mufti over alleged use of school-going children for election campaigning.

The NHPCR, invoking its statutory standing, said the body is constituted under Section 3 of the Constitution for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR), Act 2005, to protect the child rights and other related matters in the country. “The Commission is further mandated to monitor the proper and effective implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), Act 2012, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2014 and Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2005.”

“The Commission has come across an ‘X’ report wherein it has come to the notice that Ms. Mehbooba Mufti is using school-going children for the election campaign for the Rajouri-Anantnag,” the NHPCR maintains in its communique to ECI.

“The Commission is of the view that this appears to be a violation of various guidelines/provisions of the Model Code of Conduct issued by the Election Commission of India,” reads the communique.

Seeking an appropriate action against Mehbooba, who also is incumbent chairperson of PDP, the NHPCR has written to ECI that, “… the Commission while taking suo-moto cognisance of the matter u/s 13(I)j of CPCR Act 2005, brings the same to your kind notice for taking deemed appropriate action at your end.”