Delimitation mere excuse to delay elections in J&K: Omar

Baramulla, Nov 15: Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah Wednesday held the incumbent government as well as the election commission of India responsible for the delay in J&K elections saying delimitation is a mere excuse.
Talking to the reporters on the sidelines of a function at Pattan, he said that the delimitation process should have been started in 2022 and concluded till now so as to pave a way for timely elections.
“But the process is just being used as a tool to delay the election”, he added.
Omar also said the government claims of establishing the 3-tier democracy in Jammu and Kashmir of now even not a single tier has left.
“We fear if they may cite any other reasons for keeping Parliamentary elections as well away from J&K. Democracy ends at Lakhanpur,” he added.
“They have made a mockery of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. It’s very unfortunate that the election commission of India is also responsible for the same, we fail to understand why they don’t have that much courage to hold the elections,“ Omar said. “They should announce the election dates in Jammu and Kashmir and should give people their right to express their voices.”
On abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, Omar said that they took the matter to the Supreme Court and they are waiting for the verdict. “We are still with the hope that the Supreme Court’s decision would be in the interest of the people of Kashmir, ” Omar said.
Addressing party workers, Omar said some in the party try to weaken it but that should be allowed. “It must be our prime responsibility to have a vigil on these elements who don’t respect the party workers. They should not be let in at any cost,” he added.
On Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari, Omar said that they don’t lie and compromise but Bukhari can’t talk against the BJP and he is part of. “He failed to understand that when every political leader was put under detention in 2019 but how come Altaf Bukhari was enjoying freedom, asked him to tell the secret. Bukhari should explain who put Tangmarg on fire (in 2010 protests),” Omar said.
“Conspiracy against a Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir is not new. It started way back during Sher-e-Kashmir in 1953. Let us talk about 1984 also,” he said.