Former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday questioned the “unjustified” delay in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) poll by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Accusing the ECI of “prolonging the process”, Mr. Abdullah said, “The delay suggested a hidden agenda. Election is the right of the people of J&K, but if they get satisfied by snatching this right, let them do it. We won’t bow down before them.”
Referring to the statement made by the ECI earlier on the J&K poll, Mr. Abdullah said, “The ECI earlier acknowledged the existence of a vacuum in J&K due to the absence of election. On the other hand, it’s delaying the process.”
He asked the ECI to clarify the reasons behind the delay. “The ECI should fulfil the responsibility of conducting the election promptly. Only hidden motives may be influencing the ECI’s decision-making. The ECI should muster courage to tell the people why the Assembly election in J&K is not being held. If the CEC saw a vacuum here at that time, why is it not being filled? What is the compulsion?“ Mr. Abdullah said.
J&K has been without an elected government since 2018 and the last Assembly election was held in 2014.
Reacting to Mr. Abdullah’s statement, BJP leader Tarun Chugh said, “Nobody is snatching the right to election from J&K. Those who grabbed power through boycott politics spread confusion about elections.”
