Srinagar, Oct 9: A day after National Conference and Congress alliance swept elections to Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, NC Vice President Omar Abdullah said the central government is scared of holding assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir.
“National Conference is always ready for the election but neither the central government nor BJP is ready as they are scared to face the people in Jammu and Kashmir”, Omar said during a press conference in Srinagar on Monday.
The NC-Congress Alliance swept LAHDC Kargil elections by securing 22 seats . This was the first election held after abrogation of article 370 and carving the Union Territory of Ladakh from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I have no objection with BJP as it is a political party and always sees their own profit and loss”, the former Chief Minister said and added “If I have any objection that is with the Chief Election Commissioner who even today during a press conference in Delhi said that elections in J&K would be held after considering all factors”.
“I want to ask the Chief Election Commissioner what are these factors?”, Omar said. “What we feel is the only factor that is “fear factor” that BJP is feeling”.
He alleged that the BJP was earlier camouflaging behind the Raj Bhawan and now they have started to take refuge behind the Chief Election Commissioner.
The NC Vice President also alleged that “It is very unfortunate that Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commission of India could not take their decisions independently rather they are only working on the cues of BJP”.
There is no justification that Elections are not being held in Jammu and Kashmir for so many years, Omar said.
“If there is anything except fear factor we would like to hear from the Election Commission. Does the internal security situation has deteriorated to that extent that you cannot conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir”, he asked and said “If it is so tell us…since it has been conveyed to the world that situation has been greatly improved after August 5, 2019 following abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir”.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said that the administration is claiming that tourists are visiting Kashmir in crores. “If all these numbers are true..tell us what are the factors that you are considering for not conducting elections in J&K”, he again asked.
“Do the people of Jammu and Kashmir not have the right what states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana and Mizoram does have”, Omar asked and said “if they can announce elections in these states on time, why not in Jammu and Kashmir”.
“This is my direct question to the Chief Election Commissioner from the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Please tell us what are the factors that are responsible for denying the people their democratic right to government”, he questioned.
The NC Vice President said “I want to remind you of your own words that a few months ago you said that there is a vacuum and that vacuum needs to be filled. To fill that vacuum what factors the CEC are looking for that elections could not be held here in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said after abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, BJP tried to give a message to the world that bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and carving Union Territory of Ladakh was the demand of the people of Ladakh that was fulfilled.
But today the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir not only pinched Jammu but people of Kargil who also did not like it.
“The BJP may try to convey that there in Kargil are muslim majority that is why the result went in favour of us”, Omar said and added “I would like to ask them whether the bifurcation was done on the line of religion”.
The former CM said the LAHDC Kargil election was less about development but more about what happened on August 5, 2019. People of Kargil proved it by exercising their franchise in favour of truth.
Omar said with the victory in LAHDC elections, it seems that elections to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly are going far away.
He said the administration had told the Supreme Court that elections to the Assembly are not possible but preparations are being taken up for Panchayat and Urban Local bodies’ election in Jammu and Kashmir.
The NC Vice President said upon the recent meeting held by the Home Minister in New Delhi and the reports suggest that it seems that BJP is not in a position now to even conduct either Panchayat or Local bodies elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
“If it would have been in their hands they would even not conduct the forthcoming Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir ‘, he added. (Agencies)
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