National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed his displeasure over the Election Commission for not announcing the poll schedule for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, stating that delay might lead people to protest on the streets to demand their right to have an elected government.
Furious over the lack of discussion over elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the former Chief Minister expressed his concerns and raised several sharp questions to the Election Commission. He asked why the Commission was not being given permission to conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir. He questioned whether the current situation is more challenging than previous circumstances in the region, such as those in 1996 and the aftermath of the 2014 flood. He believes that the ECI should provide a clear explanation to the people of Jammu and Kashmir regarding why they are not being allowed to participate in the democratic process.
What Omar Abdullah said?
"It seems like we are being pushed to a situation where we have to protest even for our democratic rights," Abdullah said. He was responding to a question whether politics in Jammu and Kashmir has been reduced to a point where people have to take to streets for holding of assembly elections.
"The Chief Election Commissioner in a press conference today said they will consider all factors before deciding on polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, he had said there was a vacuum in J-K which needs to be filled. We want to know what are these factors? Is the government not providing EVMs? Is the government not providing security? Is the situation worse than 1996 that elections cannot be held? Is it worse than the aftermath of the 2014 flood? ECI has to answer to the people of J&K why are they keeping them away from democracy." he asked.
Election Commission on Jammu and Kashmir elections
Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held at the "right time" keeping in mind the security situation and other polls being held in the union territory. On being asked about the election in Jammu and Kashmir, Kumar said, "The decision to be taken at the right time as per the security situation and other simultaneous elections in the state."
Elections were held in 2014
The last Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections were held in 2014. After withdrawing support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on June 19, 2018, Mehbooba Mufti resigned from the position of Chief Minister, leading to the imposition of Governor's rule, followed by President's rule in the region. Subsequently, on August 5, 2019, the central government abrogated Article 370 and Article 35A, reorganising the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Since then, the region has been under the governance of Lieutenant Governors.
(With agencies input)
